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MORNING  HOURS  IN  PATIOS: 


THE 


OPENING  VISION 


THE   APOCALYPSE, 


Cljrist's  dJpistles  ta  %  Btbm  Cljurchs  of  %^m. 


B  Y 


A.   C.   THOMPSON, 

AUTHOR  OP  "THE  BETTER   LAND,"    "  GATHERED  LILIES,"   ETC. 


BOSTON: 


aOULD     AND     LINCOLN, 

59     WASIIINOTOM'     ST  BE  EX. 

NEW   YORK:    SHELDON   AND    COMPANY. 
CINCINNATI:   GEORGE   S.  BLANCHARD. 

18G0. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1860,  by 
A.    C.    THOMPSON. 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  for  the  District  of  Massachusetts. 


PRINTKU   BT 
GEOItnE     C.     RANT>    &     AVERT. 


A  N  D  O  V  K  R  : 
ELECTROTYl'KU      BY      W.F.DRArEE, 


c  o  isr  T  E  :[sr  T  s 


THE    BENEDICTION. 

PATMOS  —  THE  BOOK  OF  KEVELATION  —  CAUSES  OF  NEGLECT  — 
THE  AGED  SEER — THE  BLESSING  PRONOUNCED  —  INDUCEMENTS 
TO    ITS   STUDY  —  THE   IMPORTANCE    CUMULATIVE,        ...        13 


THE   SALUTATION  AND   DOXOLOGY. 

THE    SALUTATION  —  ITS    CHARACTER  —  THE    SOURCE    OF    BLESSING 

—  CHARACTERS  OF  CHRIST  —  SCOPE  OF  THE  BENEDICTION  —  THE 
ASCRIPTION  —  PURIFICATION   NEEDED  —  THE  FOUNTAIN  OPENED 

—  THE    APPLICATION  —  THE     HONORS    BESTOWED  —  A    TESTIMO- 
NIAL—  SELF-CONSECRATION, 30 


X  CONTENTS. 

TEE  ADVENT  IN    GLORY. 

CHRIST  ALL  IN  ALL  —  CHARACTER  OF  THE  TIMES  —  MAXXER  OF 
THE  ADVENT  —  THE  ATTENDANT  GLORY  —  THE  SAME  TO  BE 
PONDERED  —  A  TERROR  TO  THE  WICKED  —  JOYFUL  TO  BELIEV- 
ERS—  THE  ADVENTS  CONTRASTED  —  THE  ALPHA  AND  OMEGA,   53 

THE    VISION   AND    THE   SEER, 

APOSTOLIC  SYMPATHY  —  CHRISt's  SYMPATHY  —  THE  CAUSE  OF 
BANISHMENT — THE  DAY  OF  VISION  —  THE  COMMISSION  —  THE 
OPENING   VISION  — SUFFERINGS   HONORED,        ....  75 


THE  LORD    0  F  L  IF  E. 


STRENGTH  AND  COMFORT  —  THE  ALPHA  AND  OMEGA  —  OUR  RISEN 
LORD  —  CHRIST  THE  ARBITER  OF  HADES  —  CHRIST  THE  ARBI- 
TER OF  DEATH  —  DEPARTURES  CONTRASTED,      ...     92 

THE  EPISTLE    TO    EPHESUS. 

EPHESUS — PRECEDENCE  OF  THIS  EPISTLE  —  CHRIST  AVITH  HIS 
MINISTERS  AND  CHURCHES  —  EXCELLENCES  RECOGNIZED  —  THE 
GREAT  DELINQUENCY— A  WARNING  AND  A  COMMENDATION  — 
A    I'ROMISE    TO    THE    VICTOR, 109 


CONTENTS.  XI 


apt^r    S^faiJittlj. 


THE  EPISTLE    TO    SMYRNA. 

S3IYRNA  —  THE  LIVING  ONE  —  THE  SUBJECT-MATTER  OF  ADDRESS 
—  THE  SATANIC  SYNAGOGUE  —  HOLY  COURAGE  ENJOINED — A 
CORONATION   PROMISED  —  THE   MARTYR   I'OLYCARP,        .  .  130 


w^itx   ^xjgHfj. 


THE  EPISTLE    TO   P  ERG  AM  OS. 

PERGAMOS  —  CHRIST'sWORD  IRRESISTIBLE  —  CHRIST's  COGNIZANCE 
OF  THE  CHURCH  —  THEIR  FIDELITY  ACKNOWLEDGED — FALSE 
DOCTRINES  REPROBATED  —  HIDDEN  MANNA  AND  THE  WHITE 
STONE, 152 


THE  EPISTLE    TO    Til  Y  AT  IRA. 

THYATiRA  — Christ's  searching  scrutiny  — excellences  rec- 
ognized—neglect OF  discipline  censured  —  RETRIBUTION 
threatened— A  CHARGE  TO  THE  FAITHFUL  —  STEADFASTNESS 
ENJOINED— THE   VICTOR   TO   BE   CROWNED,      ....  174 


XII  CONTENTS. 

THE  EPISTLE    TO    SARDIS. 

SARI^IS  — SPIRITUAL  DEATH —VIGILANCE  ENJOINED  —  THE  WARN- 
ING—  COMPANIONSHIP  WITH  CHRIST  —  THE  PRESENTATION  IN 
GLORY 201 


THE  EPISTLE    TO   P  H I  LA  D  ELP  H I  A. 

PHILADELPHIA  — CHARACTERISTICS  OF  THE  SPEAKER  — THE  DOOM 
OF  HYPOCRITES  —  DELIVERANCE  CERTAIN  AND  NEAR  —  THE 
VICTOR   REWARDED  — THE   NEW   NAME, 222 


THE  EPISTLE    TO   LAODICEA. 

LAODICEA— THE  FAITHFUL  WITNESS  —  CHRIST'S  SUPREMACY  — 
THE  LUKEWARM  REJECTED  —  SPIRITUAL  POVERTY  —  TRUE 
RICHES  — DISCIPLINE  A  TOKEN  OF  LOVE— CHRIST  KNOCKING 
AT  THE  DOOR  —  THE  VICTOR  TO  BE  EXALTED  —  A  LAODICEAN 
SPIRIT   NOW  —  THE   CLOSING    LESSON, 241 


MORNING  HOURS  IN  PATMOS. 


-oo;«4oo- 


Cljapttr  Jfirsl. 

THE    BENEDICTION. 

The  Revelation  of  Jesus  Christ,  which  God  gave  unto 
him,  to  show  unto  his  servants  things  which  must 
shortly  come  to  pass ;  and  he  sent  and  signified  it  by 
his  angel  unto  his  servant  John  ;  who  bare  record  of 
the  word  of  God,  and  of  the  testimony  of  Jesus  Christ, 
and  of  all  things  that  he  saw.  Blessed  is  he  that  read- 
eth,  and  they  that  hear  the  words  of  this  prophecy,  and 
kefep  those  things  which  are  written  therein  ;  for  the 
time  is  at  hand.      Rev.  1 : 1 — 3. 

PATMOS. 

Our  company,  sailing  along  the  southern  shore 
of  Asia  Minor,  came  among  that  group  of  classi- 
cal islands   known   as  The   Sporades.      The  day 


14  MORNING    HOURS    IN    PATMOS. 

previous  we  left  Rhodes,  and  its  harbor,  where 
once  stood  the  renowned  Colossus,  accounted  one 
of  the  Seven  Wonders  of  the  world.  We  were 
now  off  the  coast  of  ancient  Caria.  Before  us 
lay  the  island  of  Samos,  celebrated  as  the  birth- 
place of  Pythagoras ;  and  a  little  farther  on  was 
Chios,  long  famous  for  its  wines.  Several  hours 
before  the  dawn  of  day,  we  came  abreast  of  a 
small  rocky  island.  Its  circumference  is  perhaps 
fifteen  miles,  its  coast  high  and  stern,  and  its 
whole  aspect  cheerless.  On  account  of  its  lonely, 
prison-like  character,  it  was  selected  by  the  Ro- 
mans as  a  place  of  banishment  for  state  criminals. 
Yes,  there  is  Patmos !  the  scene  of  apocalyptic 
visions.  There  was  the  last  inspired  prophecy 
communicated ;  there,  for  the  last  time,  did  the 
Lord  Jesus  reveal  himself  to  an  entranced  seer, 
never  more  to  appear  thus  visibly  to  mortal  eyes, 
till  he  shall  come  again  with  the  clouds  of  heaven, 
when  every  eye  shall  see  him.  Thou  hoary- 
headed  evangelist,  apostle  and  prophet,  how  did 
thy  venerable  form  bend  under  labors  in  the 
quarry  and  the  mine !  How  was  thy  holy  soul 
grieved  by  the  converse  of  culprits,  meriting,  as 


THE    BENEDICTION.  15 

thou  didst  not,  siicli  penal  banishment!  What 
scenes  of  transcendent  glory  and  terror  passed 
before  thine  eye,  with  sjmbol-s  of  deep  mysterious 
meaning,  —  scrolls  written  over  with  the  hiero- 
glyphics of  Heaven !  What  trumpet-tones  of 
startling  import  didst  thou  hear  !  How  did 
thine  affectionate  eye  glance  across  the  water 
to  beloved  disciples  at  Ephesus,  Smyrna,  Per- 
gamos,  Thyatira,  Sardis,  Philadelphia,  and  La- 
odicea! 

It  was  a  bright  moonlight.  The  solemn  still- 
ness of  surrounding  waters,  and  the  shadowy  out- 
lines of  silent  Patmos,  were  quite  consonant  with 
the  grandeur  and  dark  prophetic  shading  of  the 
Apocalypse.  During  those  quiet  early  hours,  and 
whilst  the  morning  sun  poured  his  rays  on  the 
^^gean  Sea,  the  author  read  —  and  naturally 
with  special  interest  —  the  opening  Vision  of 
John.  The  thoughts  which  here  follow  were 
then,  for  substance,  suggested  to  him. 

In  prosecuting  our  voyage,  we  afterwards 
came  among  the  Cyclades;  but  none  of  those 
shining  islands,  immortalized  by  classic  song  and 
history,  had   a  thousandth  part  of  the   interest 


16  MORNING   HOURS   IN  PATMOS. 

which  attached  to  the  crest  of  that  rugged  rock, 
still  visible  in  the  distant  horizon.  It  is  not 
Homer  or  SajDpho  that  we  expect  to  meet  in  the 
New  Jerusalem  ;  but,  by  the  grace  of  God,  we  do 
hope  yet  to  see  our  brother  and  companion  in 
tribulation,  and  in  the  kingdom  and  patience  of 
Jesus  Christ,  who  was  in  the  isle  that  is  called 
Patmos.  And  if  so  favored  at  last — if  permitted 
to  sit  down  with  him  as  interpreter  —  it  will  be 
an  additional  occasion  for  thanksgiving,  that  the 
eye  once  rested  for  a  few  hours  on  the  very  spot 
of  earth  where  was  made  "The  Kevelation  of 
Jesus  Christ,  which  God  gave  unto  him,  to  show 
unto  his  servants  things  which  must  shortly  come 
to  pass." 

THE   BOOK   OF  REVELATION. 

The  Apocalypse  is  a  panorama  of  the  glory  of 
Christ.  We  are  comparatively  familiar  with  the 
gospel  of  his  condescension  to  the  poor,  his  heal- 
ing mercies,  and  his  atoning  sacrifice ;  but  here  is 
the  gospel  of  his  enthronement,  and  his  coming 
again  for  judgment.  A  voice  has  cried  in  the 
wilderness.  Behold  the  Lamb  of  God  !    A  voice 


THEBENEDICTIOX.  17 

now  proclaims  from  heaven^  Behold  the  Lion  of 
the  tribe  of  Judah ! 

It  is  with  deep  reverence  that  we  would  open 
the  roll  of  this  prophecy.  No  book  of  the  Bible 
takes  us  so  irresistibly  and  at  once  into  another 
sphere.  With  what  a  conflict  of  curiosity  and 
awe  do  explorers  of  ancient  cities  in  Central 
America,  or,  more,  recently,  of  ancient  cities  in 
regions  toward  the  Euphrates,  visit  those  ruins — 
colossal,  rude,  grand,  but  silent !  And  w^ith  what 
lively  interest  have  modern  travellers  in  Africa 
lighted  upon  cities  before  unknown  to  us,  number- 
ing their  inhabitants  by  thousands^  who,  in  com- 
mon with  ourselves,  are  moving  on  toward  the 
world  of  spirits !  Similar  are  the  feelings  of  one 
who,  with  eyes  and  ears  open  to  the  wonders  of 
the  "  Revelation  of  Jesus  Christ,"  first  approaches 
this  impressive  monument  of  the  past,  this  living 
portraiture  of  the  present  and  the  future.  Here 
are  found  vastness  and  magnificence,  unparal- 
leled; strangely  significant  sculptures  and  in- 
scriptions ;  long  vistas,  bounded  by  no  terrestrial 
objects,  but  stretching  on  into  other  worlds. 
Throudiout  the  whole  is  the  utmost  intensity  of 


18  MORXING   HOURS    IX   PATMOS. 

life  ;  movements  of  the  widest  sweep,  and  the 
highest  spiritual  importance;  whilst  mingling 
splendor  and  mystery  give  to  it  a  grandeur  be- 
yond any  other  production  since  time  began. 

Yet  the  Apocalypse  is  to  many  an  unexplored 
city,  and  to  many  even  a  buried  city.  Perhaps 
no  portion  of  the  New  Testament,  and,  unless  it 
be  some  of  the  historical  books,  or  some  of  the 
minor  prophets,  no  part  of  the  Old  Testament,  is 
less  perused. 

CAUSES    OF    NEGLECT. 

There  are  various  reasons  for  this  comparative 
neglect.  One  is,  the  intrinsic  difficulty  of  inter- 
preting portions  of  it.  The  obscurity,  however, 
resting  upon  certain  scenes  in  the  revelation 
made  to  John,  is  no  greater  than  hangs  over  a 
part  at  least  of  the  more  ancient  prophecies  of 
Ezekiel  and  Zechariah,  which  certainly  wxre 
embraced  within  the  scope  of  Christ's  command, 
"Search  the  Scriptures,  for  in  them  ye  think 
ye  have  eternal  life  ;  and  they  are  they  that 
testify  of  me."  Did  Paul  make  an  exception  of 
those,  when  he  affirmed,  "All  Scripture  is  given 


THE    BENEDICTION.  19 

by  inspiration  of  God,  and  is  profitable  for  doc- 
trine, for  reproof,  for  correction,  for  instruction  in 
righteousness  "  ?  The  design  of  revelation  is  not 
to  repress,  but  to  stimulate  curiosity  and  study ; 
and  the  value  of  no  part  of  Holy  Writ  depends 
on  the  absence  of  necessity  for  investigation. 

Another  reason  for  such  neglect  is  the  injudi- 
cious manner  in  which  this  "  Testimony  of  Jesus 
Christ "  has  been  treated.  No  other  book  in  the 
Bible  was  the  subject  of  comment  so  early  and 
to  such  an  extent,  nor  has  any  other  been  the 
occasion  of  more  mistakes  and  extravagance. 
Its  structure  and  topics,  and  the  mode  of  treat- 
ing them,  will  account  for  this.  It  has  a  larger 
proportion  of  symbolic  language  than  is  found 
elsewhere,  and  such  language  is  proverbially 
capable  of  misconception.  Hence  many  strange 
notions  have  been  interpreted  into  the  book,  and 
many  an  unfounded  hypothesis  has  been  put 
forth,  as  if  the  study  of  prophecy  conferred  the 
gift  of  prophecy.  Whilst  Protestant  writers  have 
sometimes  indulged  their  fancies  in  a  very  law- 
less manner,  Eoman  Catholics  have  endeavored 
to  turn  against  them,  and  against  Luther,  all  pas- 


20  MORXIXG  nOURS   IN    PATMOS. 

sages  which  had  been  apphed  to  the  Pope  and 
Popery.  An  attempt  was  made,  many  years  ago, 
to  prove  from  the  apocalyptic  numbers  that  the 
total  overthrow  of  Protestantism  would  take  place 
in  the  year  eighteen  hundred  and  twenty-five. 

Vagaries  thus  indulged  have  naturally  created 
a  prejudice  against  the  book.  A  clergyman  of 
the  English  church,  more  distinguished  for  wit 
than  piety,  remarked  long  ago  that  the  Apoca- 
lypse either  finds  or  leaves  a  man  mad  ;  and  a 
continental  scholar  compliments  Calvin  for  dis- 
playing no  less  good  sense  in  not  commenting  on 
this  book,  than  he  displays  in  the  commentaries 
which  he  did  write.  But  shall  the  wisdom  of 
God  be  discredited  by  the  folly  of  man  ?  Does 
abuse  justify  the  disuse  of  what  the  Holy  Spirit 
has  given  for  our  benefit  ?  "  For  whatsoever 
things  were  written  aforetime,  were  written  for 
our  learning,  that  we,  through  patience  and  com- 
fort of  the  Scriptures,  might  have  hope."  The 
superficial  and  the  prejudiced  may  slight  it ;  but 
the  lofty  genius  of  Sir  Isaac  Newton  did  not  dis- 
dain a  patient  study  of  this  wonderful  book.  He 
prepared  his  observations  on  it  with  the  greatest 


THE    BENEDICTION.  21 

care,   writing   and    re-writing   again   and   again, 
before  committing  them  to  the  press. 

Another  and  far  less  justifiable  cause  of  such 
neglect  as  now  exists,  may  be  found  in  the 
absorbing  devotion  of  modern  mind  to  things 
seen  and  temporal.  There  is  a  general  and 
strangely  engrossing  attention  to  the  present ;  an 
infatuating  bondage  to  business  and  fashion  ;  and 
hence  a  natural  disrelish  for  such  books,  inspired 
or  uninspired,  as  urge  the  realities  of  an  unseen 
world  and  a  momentous  future  on  our  notice. 
It  would  appear  to  have  been  with  a  prescient 
eye  upon  just  this  state  of  things,  that  our  Lord 
communicated,  in  Patmos,  "  The  Revelation  of 
Jesus  Christ,  which  God  gave  unto  him,  to  show 
unto  his  servants  things  which  must  shortly  come 
to  pass." 

THE    WRITER. 

"  And  he  sent  and  signified  by  his  angel  unto  his 
servant  John,  who  bare  record  of  the  word  of  God, 
and  of  the  testimony  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  of  all  things 
that  he  saw." 

These  are  the  words  of  an  apostle  ;  for  there 


22  MORNING  HOURS    IN    PATMOS. 

is  no  doubt  that  the  John  who  here  speaks,  is 
the  beloved  and  highly  favored  one  of  the 
Twelve  w^ho  bears  that  name.  Some,  as  James, 
were  apostles,  without  being  evangelists  or 
prophets.  Luke  was  an  evangelist,  without  be- 
ing an  apostle  or  prophet;  Matthew  was  not  a 
prophet,  though  an  evangelist  and  apostle ;  but 
John  was  at  once  evangelist,  apostle,  and  seer ; 
and  if  eminence  in  office,  services  and  age,  could 
enhance  the  importance  of  words  which  the  Holy 
Ghost  communicated,  then  have  the  words  of  his 
prophecy  peculiar  significance. 

THE  BLESSING   PRONOUNCED. 

"  Blessed  is  he  that  readeth,  and  they  that  hear  the 
words  of  this  prophecy,  and  keep  those  things  which 
are  written  therein." 

There  are  two  strongly  marked  divisions  of 
this  "  Testimony  of  Jesus  Christ,"  as  indicated  in 
verse  nineteenth  of  the  first  chapter.  One  divis- 
ion, devoted  chiefly  to  "  the  things  which  are," 
embraces  the  first  three  chapters,  and  contains 
the    opening   vision,   together   with    the    seven 


THE    BENEDICTIOX.  23 

epistles.  The  other,  presentmg  "the  things 
which  shall  be  hereafter,"  consists  of  the  remain- 
ing nineteen  chapters,  and  is  more  characteris- 
tically, The  Revelation.  The  former  of  these  is 
comparatively  plain  and  easily  understood. 

It  cannot  fail  to  be  noticed  as  an  miusual 
circumstance,  that,  after  announcing  the  title, 
the  aged  penman  immediately  pauses  to  utter  a 
benediction.  And  where  is  there  so  formal  a 
blessing  pronounced  upon  the  reading  and  observ- 
ance of  any  other  part  of  the  sacred  canon  ? 

What  encouragement,  then,  we  have  for  study- 
ing this  last  of  the  lively  oracles !  and  what  pre- 
sumption it  is  to  plead  difficulty  of  interpretation, 
or  other  reasons,  as  an  excuse  for  neglect  of  our 
Lord's  final  messages  from  heaven!  Though 
obscure  in  parts,  it  is  intelligible  enough  to  be 
highly  useful.  It  belongs  to  that  holy  circle  of 
writings,  all  which  are  profitable,  and  profitable 
for  all.  The  blessing  pronounced  by  the  venera- 
ble prophet  on  Patmos,  w\as  not  made. conditional 
on  our  understanding  the  whole  "  Revelation  of 
Jesus  Christ,"  or  on  a  complete  understanding  of 
any  part  of  it ;  but  "  Blessed  is  he  that  readeth. 


24  MORNING   HOURS   IN   P  ATM  OS. 

and  they  that  hear  the  words  of  this  prophecy, 
and  keep  those  things  which  are  written  therein." 
Is  it  for  us  to  slight  the  production  of  an  inspired 
man,  though  he  open  his  mouth  in  a  parable,  and 
utter  dark  sayings  of  old  ?  "  Whoso  is  wise,  and 
he  shall  understand  these  things;  prudent,  and 
he  shall  know  them." 

INDUCEMENTS    TO   STUDY. 

There  are  several  respects  in  which  the  hearing 
and  keeping  of  the  words  of  this  prophecy  may 
prove  a  gratification  and  blessing. 

The  natural  desire  which  all  have  to  know 
something  of  the  future,  is  here,  in  a  measure, 
met.  Such  a  yearning  is  instinctive  in  the 
human  mind.  It  is  on  the  basis  of  this  uncon- 
trollable curiosity  that  systems  of  soothsaying 
have  been  built  up,  and  are  singularly  perpet- 
uated. But  the  "Record  of  the  word  of  God, 
and  of  the  testimony  of  Jesus  Christ,"  reveals 
scenes  of  surpassing  grandeur  and  interest  yet 
to  be  realized.  Here  are  the  sacred  Urim  and 
Thummim,  where  alone  we   may  inquire  of  the 


THE   BENEDICTION.  25 

Lord,  "  Tell  ns  when  shall  these  things  be,  and 
what  shall  be  the  sign  when  all  these  things  shall 
be  fulfilled."  To  every  humble  inquirer  comes 
the  response,  "  Blessed  is  he  that  readeth." 

The  apocalyptic  agency  is  a  guarantee  of  ben- 
efit to  those  who  study  the  book.  The  Eevela- 
tion,  like  every  other  part  of  Holy  Writ,  has  in 
its  divine  source  a  sufficient  pledge  of  high  value 
to  man.  But  there  is  here  an  enhancing  pecu- 
liarity. While  its  origin  is,  with  marked  dis- 
tinctness, ascribed  to  God,  there  are  introduced 
circumstances  that  indicate  an  extraordinary  im- 
portance in  the  production. 

"The  Revelation  of  Jesus  Christ,  which  God  gave 
unto  him,  to  show  unto  his  servants  things  which 
must  shortly  come  to  pass.  He  sent  and  signified  it 
by  his  angel  unto  his  servant  John." 

It  comes  from  the  great  Fountain  of  all  wis- 

dom   and  truth ;  but   it  was  in   the   first   place 

communicated   to  Jesus  Christ,  who,  as  Son,  is 

equal  with  the  Father,  but  as  mediator  stands  in 

subordination  to  him.      The    Saviour,  when    on 

earth,  said,  "The    Father   loveth   the   Son,  and 

3 


26  MORNING   HOURS    IN   PATMOS. 

showeth  him  all  things  that  himself  doeth." 
"  For  I  have  not  spoken  of  myself ;  but  the 
Father  which  sent  me,  he  gave  me  a  command- 
ment what  I  should  say,  and  what  I  should 
speak." 

It  was  only  occasions  of  more  august  reve- 
lation, that  seemed  to  require  the  agency  of 
angels ;  as  at  Sinai,  where  the  law  was  received 
by  their  dispensation.  Gabriel,  who  appeared  in 
vision  to  Daniel,  came  with  a  special  message  to 
him.  The  same  exalted  messenger  also  made 
the  annunciation  to  Mary,  the  mother  of  Jesus. 
Near  the  close  of  the  Apocalypse  is  a  renewed 
mention  of  this  department  of  agency :  "  The 
Lord  God  of  the  holy  prophets  sent  his  angel 
to  show  unto  his  servants  the  things  which  must 
shortly  be  done."  So  that  the  part  performed  by 
the  angel  thus  employed,  appears  to  have  been 
the  unfolding  of  such  symbolic  scenery  as  was 
successively  disclosed  in  vision  to  the  seer. 

There  is,  then,  in  the  prologue  to  this  closing 
book  of  the  sacred  volume,  manifest  intimation 
of  its  being  one  of  peculiar  weight  and  value. 
John,  the  apostle,  remains   in  the  background ; 


THE   BENEDICTION.  27 

bat  what  is  superhuman  and  divine,  at  once 
engages,  and  throughout  absorbs,  the  attention. 

Pecuhar  benefit  may  be  derived  from  warnings 
here  presented.  Where  else  are  found  such  ter- 
rific revelations  of  vindicatory  justice  ?  What 
friend  or  foe  of  Christianity  can  even  peruse  the 
record  of  these  visions  without  "  fiilling  as  dead 
at  the  feet"  of  Him  whose  awfully  majestic  and 
glorious  form  presides  over  the  whole  ? 

Here  too  are  all-sufficient  and  sublime  sources 
of  comfort.  Here  is  a  grand  charter  of  rights  and 
privileges  to  the  militant  church  of  the  Most 
High,  embellished  with  views  of  the  inheritance 
of  the  saints  in  light  —  a  charter  bearing  the  sign 
manual,  and  sealed  with  the  great  seal  of  the 
King  of  kings.  If  the  persecuted  and  downcast 
followers  of  the  Lamb  would  have  their  faith  and 
hope  made  lastingly  triumphant,  let  them  with 
prayer  peruse,  again  and  again,  the  testimony  of 
Jesus  Christ.  They  will  lift  up  their  heads  with 
jo}^,  knowing  that  their  redemption  draweth 
nigh.  In  the  whole  range  of  composition,  unin- 
spired or  inspired,  this  book  stands  unsurpassed 
for  momentous  topics  and  impressive  imagery.   It 


28  MORNING  HOURS   IN  PATMOS. 

is  the  Mont  Blanc  of  prophetic  landscape^  with 
its  mer  de  glace,  its  rushing  torrents,  its  frightful 
avalanches,  —  the  veil  never  wholly  withdrawn 
from  its  face,  whilst  its  higher  summits  rise  in 
celestial  clearness  above  the  clouds  that  hang  be- 
neath. Herein  prophecy  culminates.  And  what 
a  fitting  conclusion  it  is  to  the  most  wonderful 
of  all  books  !  Here  is  the  grand  supplement  and 
key  to  previous  predictions  uttered  by  holy  men 
of  God,  and  by  our  Lord  himself  With  strangely 
graphic  power,  it  conducts  the  militant  church 
through  appalling  scenes  of  flood,  fire,  and  car- 
nage, to  her  final  era  of  glorified  rest  and  ever- 
lasting bliss.  Can  there  be  anything  better 
suited  to  elevate  the  soul,  to  cultivate  a  sancti- 
fied dignity  of  character,  than-  devout  familiarity 
with  such  a  production  ? 

THE   IMPORTANCE   CUMULATIVE. 

"For  the  time  is  at  hand." 

The  importance  of  studying  the  Apocalypse 
increases  with  the  lapse  of  time.  Here  are 
"things  which  must  shortly  come  to  pass;"  that 


THE    BENEDICTION.  29 

is,  are  in  the  process  of  fulfilment.  Even  when 
John  bare  record  of  the  word  of  God,  and  of  the 
testimony  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  of  all  things  that 
he  saw,  the  long  period  within  which  those  suc- 
cessive scenes  were  to  be  realized  w^as  at  hand. 
The  first  in  the  connected  series  was  on  the  eve 
of  accomplishment.  If  proximity  then  consti- 
tuted a  motive  for  heeding  these  contents,  how 
much  more  does  it  now !  Every  revolving  cen- 
tury, every  closing  year,  adds  to  the  urgency 
with  which  attention  is  challenged  to  the  con- 
cluding portion  of  Holy  Writ.  And  does  not  that 
intensity  of  devotion  to  the  present,  which  char- 
acterizes our  times  and  our  country,  enhance  the 
reasonableness  of  this  claim  ?  Never,  surely,  was 
there  a  period  when  some  mighty  counteracting 
power  was  more  needed.  The  Revelation  of 
Jesus  Christ,  duly  studied,  supplies  an  appro- 
priate corrective  influence.  Would  that  all  Chris- 
tians might,  in  fullest  measure,  receive  the  bless- 
ing of  ''  them  that  hear  the  words  of  this  proph- 
ecy, and  that  keep  the  things  which  are  written 
therein,  for  the  time  is  at  hand." 
3* 


tx   S^mttir* 


TEE  SALUTATION  AND   DOXOLOGY. 

John,  to  the  seven  churches  which  are  in  Asia ; 
Grace  be  unto  you,  and  peace  from  him  which  is, 
and  which  was,  and  which  is  to  come ;  and  from  the 
seven  spirits  which  are  before  his  throne  ;  and  from 
Jesus  Christ,  who  is  the  faithful  Witness,  and  the 
first-begotten  of  tlie  dead,  and  the  Prince  of  the 
kings  of  the  earth.  Unto  him  that  loved  us,  and 
washed  us  from  our  sins  in  his  own  blood,  and 
hath  made  us  kings  and  priests  unto  God  and  his 
Father ;  to  him  be  glory  and  dominion  for  ever  and 
ever.     Amen.     Eev.  1  :  4 — 6. 

THE   SALUTATION. 

"  John  to  the  seven  churches  which  are  in  Asia." 

By  Asia  here  is  not  of  course  to  be  under- 
stood the  whole  continent,  nor  yet  that  extensive 
portion  called  Asia  Minor ;  but  a  limited    part 


SALUTATION  AND  DOXOLOGY.        31 

of  the  latter,  with  Ephesus  for  its  chief  city.  It 
is  quite  possible  that  this  district,  at  the  date 
of  the  Apocalypse,  embraced  other  churches 
besides  the  seven  named ;  as,  for  example, 
at  Colosse,  Hierapolis,  Tralles,  and  Magnesia. 
Whether  that  were  the  case  or  not,  there  was 
special  reason  why  these  seven  should  be  par- 
ticularly addressed ;  for  they  were  no  doubt  the 
chief;  they  were  near  to  Patmos,  and  not  far 
one  from  another.  The  apostle  may  have  sus- 
tained some  peculiar  relation  to  them, — they 
being,  perhaps,  his  special  nurslings ;  or  they 
may  have  stood  in  some  affiliated  relation  to  one 
another.  There  certainly  was  a  peculiarity  of 
condition  among  them  which  rendered  such 
public  and  formal  appeals  necessary. 

The  first  three  chapters,  and  particularly  the 
second  and  third,  form  the  epistolary  part  of  the 
Eevelation.  There  is,  however,  no  good  reason 
for  supposing  that  while  thus  primarily  and 
specifically  addressed  by  our  Lord  to  the  seven 
churches  of  Asia,  these  brief  e;|pistles  were  de- 
signed to  be  any  more  restricted  in  their  use 
than   the  rest  of  the  Apocalypse,  or  than  the 


32  MORNING   HOURS    IN    PATMOS. 

epistles  of  Paul,  James,  and  Peter,  In  their 
counsels,  reproofs  and  encouragements,  they  car- 
ried a  purpose  and  a  value  for  all  other  churches 
then,  and  all  churches  since. 

CHARACTER    OF   THE  ADDRESS. 

"  Grace  be  unto  you,  and  peace." 

What  is  the  subject-matter  of  the  salutation  ? 
Does  the  hoary-headed  man  on  Patmos  wish  long 
life  for  Christians  at  Ephesus,  at  Smyrna,  and 
other  churches  of  the  sisterhood  ?  Does  he  say, 
May  your  storehouses  overflow,  your  wine-presses 
burst  out  with  new  wine  ;  may  you  have  civil 
liberty  and  social  quiet ;  may  the  Eoman  soldier 
leave  your  neighborhood,  the  tax-gatherer  cease 
his  extortions  ?  The  holy  man  has  something 
immeasurably  higher  to  supplicate  for  them. 
"  Grace  be  unto  you,"  —  the  grace  that  pardons 
and  sanctifies;  the  grace  that  enables  you  to 
endure,  and  to  rejoice  under  your  grievance  ;  the 
grace  that  gives  full  assurance  of  hope,  and  a 
final  share  in  the  glories  unfolded  by  this  apoca- 
lyptic vision,  —  such  grace  be  unto  you. 


SALt^TATION   AND    DOXOLOGY.  33 

'''  And  peace/'  —  the  peace  of  God,  peace  after 
the  war  within  ;  heaven-derived  peace  to  souls 
before  dissatisfied  and  burdened ;  peace  such  as 
the  Emperor  Doniitian  cannot  produce  or  disturb ; 
peace  which,  as  a  central  characteristic  of  inward 
experience,  shall  foster  all  the  elements  of  spiritr 
ual  life  and  happiness.  "  Grace  and  peace,"  — 
grace  in  its  largest  measures,  and  peace  in  all 
its  fulness.  God's  favor  and  its  seal ;  the  divine 
implanting,  and  the  blessed  fruits  thereof.  Where 
grace  is  granted,  peace  follows ;  where  special 
grace  is  not,  there  is  no  satisfactory  peace. 
Silver  and  gold  have  I  none,  but  such  as  I  have 
give  I  unto  you  \  a  benediction  apostolic,  weighty, 
cordial. 

The  gifts  bestowed  are  not,  however,  from 
John,  richly  endowed  as  he  was ;  but  from  the 
Great  Fountain,  the  Great  Storehouse  of  the 
spiritual  world. 

THE   SOURCE    OF  BLESSING. 

"  From  him  which  is,  and  which  was,  and  which 
is  to  come ;  and  from  the  seven  spirits  wliicli  are 
before  his  throne  ;  and  from  Jesus  Christ,  who  is  the 


34  MORNING   HOURS    IN   PATMOS. 

faithful  witness,  and   the  first-begotten   of  the  dead, 
and  the  prince  of  the  kings  of  the  earth." 

Though  similar  to  other  apostolic  salutations, 
this  is  peculiar  in  its  elevation  and  mystery  of 
language;  it  is  sublimely  in  keeping  with  the 
whole  grand  and  impressive  character  of  the 
Revelation. 

"  From  him  which  is,  and  which  was,  and 
which  is  to  come."  "  I  am  that  I  am,"  hath  sent 
me  unto  you.  What  consolation  in  the  prom- 
ises, what  alarm  in  the  warnings  to  the  seven 
churches,  and  to  all  churches,  from  the  everlasting 
God  !  His  eternity  and  unchangeableness  stand 
forth  to  enhance  the  solemnity  of  this  message. 
To  him  are  no  new  years,  and  no  waning  years. 
Here  is  a  sweep  commensurate  with  the  whole 
contents  of  the  Apocalypse.  He  who  was  with 
the  church  in  the  ark,  in  the  wilderness,  in  every, 
past  storm  and  strait,  is  with  her  now ;  and  he 
will  stand  by  her  in  all  the  troubles,  perils,  and 
revolutions,  that  betide  her  future  course. 

"  And  from  the  seven  spirits  which  are  before 
his  throne."    That  is,  from  the  Holy  Spirit,  denom- 


SALUTATION  AND  DOXOLOGY.        35 

inated  "  the  seven  spirits,"  because  seven  is  a 
sacred  and  perfect  number  ;  not  thus  named  with 
reference  to  his  essential  participation  in  the  di- 
vine nature,  so  much  as  to  his  official  procession; 
not  as  denoting  interior  plurality,  but  the  fulness 
and  perfection  of  his  gifts  and  operations.  His 
own  unity,  and  the  unity  of  the  triune  Godhead 
remain  intact,  while  he  is  thus  once  designated 
"the  seven  spirits,"  to  intimate  the  variety  and 
abundance  of  his  communications. 

Some  suppose,  and  particularly  Roman  Catho- 
lics, who  are  so  destitute  of  any  pretext  in  favor 
of  angel-worship,  that  this  clause  signifies  seven 
angels ;  as  we  read  in  the  eighth  chapter,  at  the 
second  verse,  "And  I  saw  the  seven  angels  which 
stood  before  God."  But  if  angels  were  meant, 
why  were  they  not  so  called,  instead  of  spirits  ? 
And  what  business  have  angels  in  such  a  cat- 
egory, taking  rank  between  God  the  Father, 
and  the  Son,  as  if  grace  and  peace  could  come 
from  them,  as  well  as  from  the  first  and  the 
second  persons  of  the  adorable  Trinity  ? 


36  MORNING   HOURS    IN   PATMOS. 

CHARACTERS    OF   CHRIST. 

''  And  from  Jesus  Christ  the  faithful  witness." 
It  had  been  foretold  through  Isaiah,  "  Behold 
I  have  given  him  for  a  witness  to  the  people." 
Before  Pontius  Pilate  he  witnessed  a  good  con- 
fession. He  is  one  to  be  depended  upon.  Pre- 
ceding prophets  had,  indeed,  borne  truthful 
witness  of  him ;  but  he  is  the  truth  itself 
"The  first-begotten  of  the  dead."  He  has  pre- 
eminence in  this  as  a  predicted  fact,  and  in 
the  circumstances  attending  it ;  but  most  of  all 
in  its  being  a  return  to  confirmed  life,  to  a 
victorious,  lasting  power  over  death.  Those 
who  had  been  raised  before  his  advent,  and 
those  raised  during  his  sojourn  on  earth,  were 
still  subject  to  death ;  they  died  again,  and 
that  presently.  But  Christ,  the  first-fruits  of 
them  that  slept,  never  slept  again.  It  is  fitting 
that  he,  the  eldest  in  the  family,  should  take  this 
signal  precedence  in  becoming  alive  forevermore. 
"  Who  is  the  beginning,  the  first-born  from  the 
dead ;  that  in  all  things  he  might  have  the 
preeminence." 


SALUTATION  AND  DOXOLOGY.       37 

^^  The  prince  of  the  kings  of  the  earth." 
This  regal  character  of  Messiah  had  been  the 
subject  of  prediction :  "  I  will  make  him  my 
first-born  higher  than  the  kings  of  the  earth." 
During  the  incarnation,  his  dignity  was  much 
in  abeyance ;  it  was  humanity  that  stood  next 
to  us ;  but  that  period  was  only  a  temporary 
eclipse  of  the  King  of  day.  Emerging,  he  shone 
with  new  lustre  ;  he  rose  on  the  universe,  the 
infinitely  resplendent  luminary,  the  glory  of  all 
worlds.  "  On  his  vesture  and  on  his  thigh  is  a 
name  written.  King  of  kings  and  Lord  of  lords;" 
on  his  head  are  many  crowns.  His  is  the  throne 
high  and  lifted  up,  a  throne  that  shall  never 
crumble;  he  is  our  all-sufiicient,  our  everlasting 
prophet,  priest  and  prince. 

SCOPE    OF    THE   B E NE D ICTI O IT . 

"The  revelation  of  Jesus  Christ"  here  laid 
before  us,  has  no  limited  range  of  period,  or  of 
believers  addressed  ;  it  is  for  his  servants  till  the 
end  of  time.  The  hoary-headed  apostle  on  Pat- 
mos  spoke  first,  indeed,  to  churches  in  Proconsular 

4 


38  MORNING    HOURS    IN    PATMOS. 

Asia ;  but  he  spoke  also  to  the  saints  in  Christ 
JesuSj  of  all  lands,  and  through  all  succeeding 
centuries.  Who,  then,  will  not  gather  courage 
for  future  storms,  in  the  benediction  of  ^^  grace 
and  peace  from  him  which  is,  and  which  was,  and 
which  is  to  come ;  and  from  the  seven  spirits 
which  are  before  his  throne ;  and  from  Jesus 
Christ,  the  faithful  witness,  and  the  first-begotten 
of  the  dead,  and  the  prince  of  the  kings  of  the 
earth?" 

THE  ASCRIPflOK. 

What  response  shall  be  made?  What  testi- 
monial of  regard  befitting  the  rank  of  him  who 
salutes  us,  shall  be  returned  ?  Holy  Spirit,  in- 
dite thou  a  reply  for  us!  Do  thou  who  art 
resident  at  the  court  of  the  King  of  kings, 
familiar  wath  the  proprieties  of  heaven,  who  hast 
often  aided  ignorant  earth-bred  man,  supply  us 
with  hearts  and  with  words  acceptable  to  him 
who  is  Alpha  and  Omega,  the  great  Creator, 
Sovereign  and  Saviour !  Thanks  be  to  thee  for 
the  doxology  here  given. 


SALUTATION  AND  DOXOLOGY.        39 

"  Unto  liim  that  loved  us,  and  washed  us  from 
our  sins  in  his  own  blood,  and  hath  made  us  kings 
and  priests  unto  God,  and  his  Father ;  to  him  be 
glory   and   dominion  for   ever   and   ever.     Amen." 

We  had  thought  that  our  earthly  father  loved 
us ;  that  a  fond  mother  loved  us ;  that  an  affec- 
tionate brother  loved  us ;  that  a  bosom  friend 
had  given  peculiar  proofs  of  attachment ;  but 
now  we  see  that  none  beside  Christ's  love 
deserves  the  name.  "  Greater  love  hath  no 
man  than  this,"  —  and  few,  very  few,  have  this, 
—  "  that  a  man  lay  down  his  life  for  his  friends." 
But  here  is  love  commended  to  us,  in  that  while 
we  were  yet  enemies  Christ  died  for  us.  He 
alone  has  surrendered  rank,  and  wealth,  and  life 
for  us.  "Unto  him  that  loved  us;"  no  one  else 
has  shown  affection.  Many  are  the  admiring 
thoughts  that  rush  into  our  minds,  but  all  resolve 
themselves  into  this  :  "  Unto  him  that  loved  us." 
We  have  many  things  to  say ;  a  whole  life  will 
not  suffice  for  them ;  but  first  of  all  and  forever 
must  we  sing,  "  Unto  him  that  loved  us."  We 
have  one  superscription  to  write,  one  inscription 
to  make  on  oar  hearts,  our  homes,  and  all  that  is 


40  MORNING   HOURS   IN    PATMOS. 

ours;  deep  and  broad  be  the  letters  graven, 
"  Unto  him  that  loved  us  " 

PURIFICATION  NEEDED. 

"And  washed  lis  from  our  sins  in  his  own 
blood."  Ah !  here  is  the  amazing  proof  of  love. 
This  gives  intensity  of  meaning  to  the  previous 
words,  and  let  it  be  well  pondered.  We  must 
contemplate  our  vileness,  if  we  would  know  with 
what  love  the  spotless  Lamb  has  washed  us  from 
our  sins  in  his  own  blood.  And  what  stains  there 
are  to  be  cleansed !  stains  deep,  direful,  universal ! 
A  dark  taint  runs  through  man's  whole  nature. 
So  far  as  spiritual  excellences  are  concerned,  the 
unrenewed  heart  is  a  desert,  with  green  spots 
here  and  there,  and  a  few  scattered  flowers,  but 

"  The  trail  of  the  serpent  Is  over  them  all ;" — 

with  springs  here  and  there,  but  they  prove  to  be 
mere  ulcers  of  nature,  whose  streams  are  discol- 
ored and  loathsome.  The  issues  of  life  from 
such  a  source,  can  have  no  other  character  than 
their  polluted  origin. 


SALUTATION  AND  DOXOLOGY.       41 

If  any  one  feels  disposed  to  deny  that  the 
fountain  itself  is  originally  and  absolutely  cor- 
rupted, he  must  surely  admit  that  when  its 
products  reach  us,  and  become  known,  they  are 
vitiated.  Toward  its  sources  in  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains, the  Eed  River  passes  through  a  red  soil, 
which  gives  color  and  name  to  the  stream ;  and 
its  waters  are  never  healthful;  they  are  often 
positively  deleterious.  So  the  stream  of  life,  upon 
our  first  acquaintance,  is  charged  with  impurities; 
poisoning  passions  and  defiling  lusts  intermingle ; 
and  it  must  be  not  only  that  the  soil  through 
which,  and  the  strata  over  which,  it  flows  make 
their  noxious  contributions,  but  that  the  very 
well-head  is  poisoned.  "Even  their  mind  and 
conscience  is  defiled."  And  must  not  the  God  of 
purity  turn  away  from  such,  leaving  them  in  the 
horrible  pit,  and  miry  clay,  and  finally  cast  them 
into  outer  darkness  ?  We  are  by  this  defilement 
made  legally  and  inherently  unclean ;  but  guilt 
brings  inevitable  condemnation  and  misery. 
How,  then,  shall  the  ruin  be  repaired  ?  Say,  ye 
wise  men,  ye  men  of  research,  ye  who  have  ex- 
perimented  largely,  who    have    read   much,  and 

4* 


42  MORNING    HOURS    IN   PATMOS. 

travelled  far,  have  you  found  the  remedy  ?  Tell 
me,  for  my  trembling  spirit  must  have  an  an- 
swer. It  is  a  question  of  life  and  death  —  "How 
should  man  be  just  with  God  ?"  How  shall  this 
unsightly  soul  become  pure  ?  Outward  washings, 
or  other  mere  ceremonies,  avail  nothing.  The 
stains  are  deeply  inward,  and  God's  displeasure  is 
awfully  and  righteously  intense.  Abana  and 
Pharpar,  rivers  of  Damascus,  the  Jordan  or  the 
Ganges,  will  not  do  it.  Not  all  the  rain  from  the 
clouds,  nor  all  the  waters  of  the  ocean  will 
suffice  for  such  baptism.  "Though  thou  wash 
thee  with  nitre,  and  take  thee  much  soap,  yet 
thine  iniquity  is  marked  before  me,  saith  the 
Lord  God."  A  meritorious,  not  ceremonious,  puri- 
fying is  needed.  No  penances,  mental  or  bodily, 
will  do  it.  Anguish  of  soul  does  not  atone  or 
cleanse ;  neither  the  fires  of  pretended  purgatory, 
nor  the  actual  tortures  of  the  sharp  crucifix,  can 
expiate.  Yet,  "  Without  shedding  of  blood  is  no 
remission."  Whose  blood,  then,  will  appease 
and  cleanse  ?  Whose  ?  Answer,  who  that  an- 
swer can.  Speak  out,  you  that  have  found  the 
remedy ! 


SALUTATION    AND    DOXOLOGY.  43 

A   FOUNTAIN   OPENED. 

"  Unto  him  that  loved  us,  and  washed  us  from 
our  sins  in  his  own  blood,"  —  in  thy  precious 
blood,  0  Saviour !  No  appliances  and  efforts  of 
man  at  expiation  and  purification  can  avail :  the 
blood  of  Jesus  Christ  alone  cleanseth  from  all 
sin.  It  is  not  Stephen's,  nor  the  blood  of  all 
the  martyrs,  but  that  of  Jesus  Christ,  the  Son 
of  God,  which  has  this  wondrous  .power.  Who, 
then,  need  despair?  Who  shall  ever  dare  to 
say,  My  sin  is  too  great  to  be  forgiven  ?  There 
are  no  heights,  no  depths  of  guilt,  for  which 
Christ's  blood  will  not  suffice. 

Each  disability  under  which  man  labors  —  one 
from  without,  and  one  from  within  —  is  met 
by  the  blood  of  Christ.  It  makes  expiation. 
Divine  Justice  is  thus  appeased,  and  so  the 
sinner's  danger  is  removed.  That  alone  becomes 
a  satisfaction,  and  so  quenches  the  fire  of  enkin- 
dled wrath.  "  By  his  own  blood,  he  entered  in 
once  into  the  holy  place,  having  obtained  eternal 
redemption  for  us ; "  and  thus  is  the  first  grand 
obstacle   to    the    sinner's    salvation    completely 


44  MORNING   HOURS   IN  PATMOS. 

removed.  The  foundation  is  thus  laid,  and  way 
prepared  for  all  the  remaining  parts  and  pro- 
ceedings of  salvation,  —  the  meritorious  ground 
of  the  whole  being  the  sacrifice  of  Jesus  Christ. 


THE   APPLICATION, 


The  saving  use  made  of  Christ's  blood  is  an 
official  work  of  the  Holy  Spirit :  "  For  we  are 
elect  according  to  the  foreknowledge  of  God  the 
Father,  through  sanctification  of  the  Spirit,  unto 
obedience  and  sprinkling  of  the  blood  of  Jesus." 
The  conviction  on  the  sinner's  mind  becomes 
deep  and  strong  that  he  is  full  of  leprosy ;  not 
having  here  and  there  a  spot  merely,  but  that  he 
is  diseased  universally  and  incurably,  save  by  the 
One  to  whom  he  cries, "  Lord,  if  thou  wilt,  thou 
canst  make  me  clean ! "  God  in  mercy  commences 
"  purifying  their  hearts  by  faith,"  —  faith  in  the 
sacrifice  of  Christ.  By  that  alone,  does  the  work 
of  renewal  begin ;  and  yet  this  very  faith  is  not 
of  ourselves  —  it  is  the  gift  of  God. 

Nor  can  there  be  any  genuine  growth  in  grace, 
apart  from  this  great  central  truth  of  the  system. 
Excellences,    yes,    high    excellences   of  natural 


SALUTATION    AXD    DOXOLOGY.  45 

character  there  may  be ;  but,  havmg  their  root 
and  nourishment  elsewhere,  they  do  not  evince 
sanctification ;  they  are  not  plants  of  righteous- 
ness. Spiritual,  holy  cleansing  goes  forward  only 
in  proportion  as  there  is  a  quickening  apprehen- 
sion of  the  fact  that  Christ  came  "  to  purify  to 
himself  a  peculiar  people."  The  blood  of  Christ 
alone  can  cleanse  from  all  sin,  quenching  the 
internal  fires  of  passion,  and  withering  the  cor- 
rupt propensities.  That  alone  which  gives  peace, 
gives  purity.  By  the  same  method  and  power 
are  the  guilt  and  the  stains  removed  —  even  by 
Christ's  washing  us  from  our  sins  in  his  own 
blood.  Hence  the  song  of  deliverance,  the  pcean 
of  praise  —  "  Unto  him  that  loved  us."  Herein, 
herein  is  love.  0,  ye  justified  ones! — ye  who 
are  expecting  a  seat  at  the  unending  marriage 
supper  of  the  Lamb,  and  to  receive  a  crown,  and 
palm-branch,  and  harp,  —  what  is  your  present, 
what  will  be  your  everlasting  acclamation  but 
this :  "  Unto  him  that  loved  us,  and  washed 
us  from  our  sins  in  his  own  blood "  ?  Is  it  not 
because,  passing  under  the  cross,  one  of  its 
all-healing  drops  has  fallen  upon   you,  you  are 


46  MORNING    HOURS    IN    PATMOS. 

moving  along  that  bright  path  on  which  beams 
the  Hght  of  God's  reconciled  countenance, —  the 
path  that  leads  to  perfected  purity ;  and  you 
"  have  boldness  to  enter  into  the  holiest  by  the 
blood  of  Jesus"  ? 

THE   HONORS  BESTOWED. 

'^And  hath  made  us  kings  and  priests  unto 
God  and  his  Father."  Heio:htenino:  wonder ! 
From  being  enemies,  we  not  only  become 
friends  to  God,  but  kings  ;  from  being  defiled, 
we  are  not  only  purified,  but  raised  to  an  office 
implying  highest  sanctity.  True,  this  dignity 
pertains  to  a  kingdom  not  of  this  world,  yet  in 
a  measure  to  the  present  life  of  every  believer. 
True,  in  the  world  to  come,  saints  are  to  have 
a  most  exalted  and  endurino-  re^al  rank :  "  To 
him  that  overcometh,  will  I  grant  to  sit  with 
me  in  my  throne.  And  they  shall  reign  for 
ever  and  ever."  Yet  now  also  is  it  true  —  and 
when  John  addressed  the  persecuted  saints  of 
his  day,  was  it  true  —  that  the  disciples  of 
Christ  are  made  kings  and  priests  unto  God. 
Thou  oh  this  form    one    stanza   in   the  sons:   of 


SALUTATION  AND  DOXOLOGY.       47 

Moses  the  servant  of  God,  and  the  song  of 
the  Lamb ;  though  specially  appropriate  to  the 
future,  it  is  a  doxology  of  the  present  too.  For 
successful  resistance  to  Satan,  for  the  subjugation 
of  sin,  for  the  conquest  of  nations  to  Christ, 
they  are  now  made  kings  unto  him.  Truth- 
ful and  beautiful  was  the  remark,  suggested 
by  this  passage,  which  the  young  Duke  of 
Hamilton  made  on  his  death-bed  to  a  brother  still 
younger :  "  You,  Douglass,  will  soon  be  a  duke, 
but  I  shall  be  a  king."  Not  less  scriptural,  and 
more  striking,  was  the  answer  of  an  aged  African, 
when  weeping  friends  stood  round  his  bed,  and 
sobbed,  '^  Poor  Pompey !  poor  Pompey  is  dying ! " 
—  "  Don't  call  me  poor  Pompey !  "  exclaimed  the 
earnest  old  man  ;  "  I  am  king  Pompey !  " 

But  we  are  also  made  priests  unto  him.  What 
was  said  to  the  literal,  is  said  to  the  spiritual 
Israel  of  God :  "  Ye  shall  be  a  peculiar  treasure 
unto  me  above  all  people  ;  and  ye  shall  be  unto 
me  a  kingdom  of  priests,  and  a  holy  nation."  In 
respect  to  the  sacerdotal,  no  less  than  the  regal 
dignity  to  which  believers  are  raised,  there  is  a 
resplendent  future,  of  which  the  present  is  dimly 


48  MORNING   HOURS    IN    PATMOS. 

emblematic.  Yet  now  also  do  saints  stand  before 
the  altar,  as  well  as  sit  upon  a  throne.  They  are 
a  holy  priesthood,  to  offer  up  si^iritual  sacrifices 
acceptable  to  God  by  Jesus  Christ. 

This,  then,  is  our  position :  Christ,  in  rescuing, 
ennobles  us;  from  the  depths  of  ruin  he  not 
merely  raises  us  to  the  condition  of  safety  and 
purity,  but  to  the  highest  place  of  honor  and 
service. 

THE  DOXOLOG  Y. 

"  To  him  be  glory  and  dominion  for  ever  and 
ever.  Amen."  What  would  be  man's  device 
for  a  monument  to  the  greatest  Benefactor  ? 
Let  Christendom  unite  in  an  effort.  It  will, 
perhaps,  be  a  memorial  structure  on  some  noble 
eminence,  as  goodly  Lebanon.  The  genius  of 
the  civilized  world  combines  for  a  worthy  con- 
ception as  to  materials,  magnitude,  proportions, 
details,  and  decorations.  All  navies  and  mer- 
chantmen are  employed  as  transports.  Egypt 
sends  her  pyramids  and  obelisks,  India  all  her 
treasures,  Europe  her  palaces,  and  all  the 
choicest   stores   of  her  museums   and    galleries; 


SALUTATION    AND    DOXOLOGY.  49 

all  banking  establishments,  all  commercial  houses, 
all  governments,  empty  their  coffers  in  aid  of 
the  undertaking.  There  is  constituted  a  college 
of  architects  and  artisans  out  of  all  lands, — all  the 
Bezaleels  and  Aholiabs,  all  the  wise-hearted  men, 
and  the  men  cunning  to  work  in  gold,  and  in 
silver,  in  brass,  and  in  iron,  and  in  purple,  and 
crimson,  and  blue,  and  that  can  skill  to  grave 
with  the  cunning  men.  There  rises  a  struct- 
ure to  which  Solomon's  temple  would  be  an 
insignificant  vestibule  ;  a  structure  whose  summit, 
gilded  by  the  morning  sun,  catches  the  eye  of 
dwellers  in  distant  regions.  Shall  this  be  our 
offering  ?  Oh,  littleness  !  "  Lebanon  is  not  suf- 
ficient to  burn,  nor  the  beasts  thereof  sufficient 
for  a  burnt-offering."  All  nations  before  him,  and 
all  their  works,  are  as  nothing ;  and  they  are 
counted  unto  him  less  than  nothing,  and  vanity. 
Something  beats  in  the  breast  worth  more  than 
all  the  mountains,  and  all  treasures  of  the  sea. 
It  is  grateful,  adoring  hearts  which  our  Saviour 
covets.  And  where  grace  and  peace  are  expe- 
rienced, praise  will  flow.  "  Unto  him,"  therefore, 
'^  that  loved  us,  and  washed  us  from  our  sins  in 


50  MORNING   HOURS    IN   PATMOS. 

his  blood,  and  hath  made  us  kings  and  priests 
unto  God  and  his  Father  —  to  him  be  glory  and 
dominion."  Here  is  our  gold,  frankincense,  and 
myrrh.  Not  to  the  half  of  our  kingdom  merely 
do  we  give  him,  but  the  entire  realm  of  our 
souls,  with  all  their  teeming  thoughts,  all  their 
silver  cords  of  affection. 

Such  an  edifice  as  now  imagined,  would  soon 
crumble.  The  smell  of  fire  would  ere  long  pass 
upon  it,  as  upon  the  whole  earth,  and  all  the 
works  that  are  therein.  To  him  which  is,  and 
which  was,  and  which  is  to  come  ;  and  to  the 
seven  spirits  which  are  before  his  throne,  and 
to  him  who  is  the  faithful  witness  and  first- 
begotten  of  the  dead,  and  Prince  of  the  kings  of 
the  earth,  is  due  an  offering  without  limits  in  the 
range  of  its  honoring  testimony.  To  him,  then, 
be  glory  and  honor  for  ever  and  ever.  Let  the 
royal  priesthood  reiterate  the  same  continually. 
Never  let  the  lamps  go  out  in  the  temple ;  and 
as  in  your  courses  ye  pass  to  your  throne  and 
altar  on  high,  still  repeat  it :  "  Unto  him  be  glory 
and  dominion."  Roll  on,  mighty  anthem,  for 
ever  and  ever,  as  the  sound  of   many   waters! 


SALUTATION  AND  DOXOLOGY.       51 

swelling  higher  and  fuller,  as  hearts  and  voices 
expand,  through  everlasting  ages !  This  shall  be 
the  hallelujah  chorus  of  that  world,  in  the  light 
of  which  walk  the  nations  of  them  that  are 
saved,  and  into  which  these  kings  of  earth  do 
bring  their  glory  and  honor. 

S  E  LF- CO  NSE  ORATION. 

Ye  who  are  made  kings  unto  God ;  ye  wdio 
are  of  the  seed  royal,  raised  up  together,  and 
made  to  sit' together  in  heavenly  places  in  Christ 
Jesus,  —  elevated  already  to  the  highest  honor 
that  created  beings  can  be  in  this  w^orld,  and 
yet  to  be  exalted  to  a  dignity  equal  to  that  of 
angels, — what  say  you  to  him?  What  will  you 
do  for  him  whose  precious  blood,  whose  all-con- 
quering' grace  has  effected  this,  and  wdio  Avill  ere 
long  associate  you  with  himself  on  his  throne  ? 
Are  ye  kings  otherw^ise  or  farther  than  ye  are  a 
royal  priesthood,  for  the  offering  up  of  3^0  ur 
whole  selves  a  continued  sacrifice? — the  altar 
never  cold,  the  incense  of  prayer  and  praise 
never  w^anting,  the  sweet-smelling  savor  of  holy 


52  MORNING    HOURS    IN   PATMOS. 

affections  and  holy  living  never  interrupted  ? 
Life  should  be  one  glad  doxology.  Existence 
through  all  ages,  and  all  worlds,  should  be  the 
one  solemn,  exulting  eucharist :  "  Unto  him  that 
loved  us,  and  washed  us  from  our  sins  in  his  own 
blood,  and  hath  made  us  kings  and  priests  unto 
God  and  his  Father ;  to  him  be  glory  and  domin- 
ion for  ever  and  ever.    Amen." 


THE   ADVENT  IN    GLORY. 

Behold,  lie  cometh  with  clouds ;  and  every  eye 
shall  see  him,  and  they  also  which  pierced  him, 
and  all  the  kindreds  of  the  earth  shall  wail  because 
of  him.  Even  so.  Amen.  I  am  Alpha  and  Omega, 
the  beginning  and  the  ending,  saith  the  Lord, 
which  is,  and  which  was,  and  which  is  to  come,  the 
Almighty.    Rev.  1 :  7 — 8. 

CHRIST  ALL    IN  ALL. 

The  One  who  of  old  was  to  come,  is  still  the 
desire  of  all  nations.  The  Apocalypse,  harmoniz- 
ing with  previous  Scriptures,  yet  supplementing 
them,  furnishes  a  glimpse  of  the  royal  Messiah's 
sway  onward  through  the  whole  course  of  ages. 
It  presents  him  as  the  great  Executive  of  the 
universe,  the  Alpha  and  Omega  in  creation, 
redemption  and  retribution.  All  prophecies  and 
all  administrations  are  here  seen  to  take  their 
spirit  and  significance  from  him. 


54  MORNING    HOURS    IN    PATMOS. 

While  no  one  can  be  too  familiar  Avitli  the 
history  of  his  life  on  earth,  his  expiatory  suffer- 
ings, his  resurrection  and  ascension,  do  Christians 
of  the  present  day  generally  turn  their  thoughts 
in  due  proportion  to  the  future  manifestations  of 
Jesus  Christ  ?  Do  they  not  rob  themselves  of 
the  intended  present  benefits  of  a  most  animat- 
ing occurrence,  if  they  fail  to  meditate  often 
upon  the  second  coming  of  our  glorious  Re- 
deemer ? 

The  former  dispensation  was  closed,  and  the 
new  one  ushered  in  by  the  most  wonderful  event 
which  had  ever  taken  place  —  the  humiliation 
of  Immanuel.  The  era  now  passing  is  to  close  in 
the  consummation  of  all  things,  over  which  He 
will  preside  with  surpassing  majesty,  and  which 
is  to  mark  the  most  memorable  epoch  in  the 
annals  of  eternity.  The  beginning  of  that  end- 
ing, the  prefatory  event  which  is  to  introduce 
that  glorious  dispensation,  will  be  Christ's  second 
coming.  '•  Behold  he  cometh  with  clouds  ;  and 
every  eye  shall  see  him,  and  they  also  that 
pierced  him ;  and  all  kindreds  of  the  earth  shall 
wail  because  of  him." 


THE   ADVENT   IN    GLORY.  55 

This  imagery  calls  to  mind  three  previous 
passages  of  Scripture.  One  is  in  Daniel :  "  I  saw 
in  the  night  visions,  and  behold  one  like  the  Son 
of  man  came  in  the  clouds  of  heaven."  Another 
in  Zechariah  :  "  And  they  shall  look  on  me  whom 
they  have  pierced,  and  they  shall  mourn  for  him, 
as  one  mourneth  for  his  only  son,  and  shall  be 
in  bitterness  for  him  as  one  that  is  in  bitterness 
for  his  first-born."  And  the  third  in  Matthew: 
"  Then  shall  the  tribes  of  the  earth  mourn,  and 
they  shall  see  the  Son  of  man  coming  in  the 
clouds  of  heaven  with  power  and  great  glory." 
In  uttering  the  last  of  these,  our  Saviour  seems 
to  have  had  the  first  two  in  mind,  while  the  three 
have  a  corres^Dondence  with  the  impressive  words 
occurring  in  this  place. 

The  writer  does  not  propose  to  dwell  on  the 
theme  in  a  disputatious  style  -,  nor  to  dwell  on 
the  questions  of  chronology  involved,  of  pre- 
millennial  and  postrmillennial  order,  of  a  regene- 
rated physical  world;  nor  yet  upon  the  judgment, 
and  those  retributory  states  which  are  to  follow ; 
but  only  on  the  simple  fact,  that  our  Lord  is  to 
come  in  the  manner  here  described. 


66  MORNING    HOURS    IN    PATMOS. 

CHARACTER    OF    THE    TIMES. 

The  period  immediately  preceding  the  epoch 
when  Christ  is  to  come  with  clouds,  will  be  one 
of  great  sensuality  and  carnal  security.  Unem- 
ployed talents  lie  wrapped  in  napkins ;  the  vir- 
gins all  slumber  and  sleep.  In  the  absence  of  the 
Nobleman,  servants  begin  to  smite  fellow-ser- 
vants, and  to  eat,  and  drink,  and  to  be  drunken. 
They  put  far  off  the  evil  day ;  or,  hardened 
into  utter  skepticism,  inquire.  Where  is  the  prom- 
ise of  his  coining  ? 

His  coming  will  be  sudden,  at  unawares,  and 
to  many  in  terror.  Christ's  own  language  is : 
"For  as  a  snare  shall  it  (that  day)  come  on 
all  them  that  dwell  on  the  face  of  the  whole 
earth"  —  As  a  snare,  suddenly  and  rapidly. 
Again :  "  The  day  of  the  Lord  shall  come  as  a 
thief  in  the  night"  —  Unexpected,  and  not  pre- 
pared for.  And  again:  "As  the  lightning 
cometh  out  of  the  east,  and  shineth  even  unto 
the  west,  so  shall  also  the  coming  of  the  Son 
of  man  be."  At  what  time,  or  where  the  flash 
will  be  seen,  no  one  can  tell ;  but  when  it  comes, 


THE    ADVENT    IN    GLORY.  57 

it  is  to  gleam  instantaneously  through  the  sky, 
dazzling  and  startling  to  all.  The  general  deluge, 
and  the  storm  upon  Sodom  and  Gomorrah,  are 
also  referred  to  as  analogous,  in  their  unlooked-for 
coming  to  an  ungodly  generation. 


MANNER    OF    THE   ADVENT. 

Our  Lord's  return  from  heaven  will  be  like  his 
departure  from  earth,  real  and  sensible.  As  he 
stood  upon  Mount  Olivet,  after  talking  with  his 
disciples  of  the  approaching  dispensation  of  the 
Spirit,  "  he  was  taken  up,  and  a  cloud  received 
him  out  of  their  sight."  And  while  they  were 
gazing  steadfastly  toward  heaven  as  he  went  up, 
they  were  assured,  "  This  same  Jesus,  which  is 
taken  up  from  you  into  heaven,  shall  so  come  in 
like  manner,  as  ye  have  seen  him  go  into 
heaven."  "  From  whence,  also,"  —  so  Paul  writes 
— "  we  look  for  the  Saviour,  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ ;"  "  For  the  Lord  himself  shall  descend 
from  heaven  with  a  shout."  If  any  are  disposed 
to  raise  difficulties  upon  astronomical  or  other 
grounds,  we  will  abide  by  the  testimony  of  Him 


58  MORNING    HOURS    IN    PATMOS. 

who  made  the  heavens  and  the  earth,  and  wait 
till  the  advent  itself  shows  which  is  the  more 
rational. 

He  does,  indeed,  come  evermore  by  his  provi- 
dence. He  comes  also  spiritually  to  individuals, 
when  he  reveals  himself  to  the  soul  as  Saviour, 
and,  with  the  Father,  makes  his  abode  there  ;  or 
when,  in  accordance  with  precious  promises,  he 
vouchsafes  a  special  presence,  as  to  his  minister- 
ing servants.  But  as  in  the  transient  theophanies 
of  the  Old  Testament,  and  in  his  residence  of  more 
than  thirty  years  on  earth,  he  was  sensibly  pres- 
ent, and  when  he  left  the  world,  left  by  a  visible 
withdrawment  of  his  resurrection  body,  so  will 
his  return  be  a  visible  reappearance  :  "  Every  eye 
shall  see  him."  His  identity  will,  of  course,  be 
unimpaired :  "  This  same  Jesus  which  is  taken  up 
from  you  into  heaven,  shall  so  come  in  like  man- 
ner as  ye  have  seen  him  go  into  heaven."  "  This 
same  Jesus,"  who  has  just  commissioned  you  to  be 
his  witnesses ;  who  gave  promise  of  the  Spirit's 
descent;  whose  sacred  hands  and  side  thou, 
doubting  Thomas,  wast  bidden  to  behold ;  whom 
ye  all  were  invited  to  handle  and  see  that  he  had 


THE    ADVENT    IN    GLORY.  59 

veritable  flesh  and  bones ;  with  whom  ye  have 
eaten  and  conversed ;  tjiis  same  Jesus  who  said, 
"  Peace  be  unto  you,"  in  the  upper  room ;  yes, 
this  same  Jesus  who  was  born  at  Bethlehem, 
who  lived  at  Nazareth ;  whom  ye  saw  betrayed, 
and  saw  upon  the  cross ;  —  "  this  same  Jesus 
shall  so  come  in  like  manner  as  ye  have  seen  him 
go  into  heaven."  He  will  come  visibly,  and  in  all 
recognizable  identity.  No  disciple  of  his  will 
then  ask,  "  Art  thou  he  that  should  come,  or  look 
we  for  another  ?  " 

THE    ATTENt)ANT   GLOUY. 

But,  as  the  Saviour  is  to  come  in  the  manner 
described,  and  every  eye  is  to  see  him,  the  ques- 
tion arises :  How  will  they  behold  him  ?  with 
what  sensible  disj)lay  will  he  come  ? 

"  Behold   he   cometh  with   clouds." 

It  will  be  with  surpassing  glory.  When  he 
was  on  earth,  he  taught :  "  The  Son  of  man  shall 
come  in  his  own  glory,"  —  his  own  glory  as  God- 
man.     His  human  form  now  in  the  heavens,  and 


60  MORNING   HOURS  IN  PATMOS. 

as  then  to  be  exhibited,  is  the  most  glorious 
created  object  in  the  universe.  And  when  he 
shall  reappear,  it  will  be  under  no  eclipse,  under 
no  hinderance  to  the  full  disjDlay  of  his  perfec- 
tions. Humanity  exalted  to  the  highest  possible 
excellence,  crowned  by  all  the  attributes  of 
Deity,  will  shine  forth  in  undimmed  effulgence. 
Personal  beauty,  and  dignity,  and  regal  majesty 
will  be  seen  in  utmost  eminence.  When  the 
Ancient  of  Days  doth  sit,  it  will  be  with  a  gar- 
ment white  as  snow,  on  a  throne  like  the  fiery 
flame,  and  his  wheels  as  burning  fire.  A  fiery 
stream  shall  issue  and  come  forth  from  before 
him.  The  glory  of  his  power  as  Creator  and 
Preserver,  the  glory  of  his  headship  over  the 
whole  domain  of  creation,  and  over  all  ranks  of 
creatures,  the  glory  of  his  justice  and  compassion 
as  atoning  sufierer  and  fraternal  intercessor, 
will  gleam  with  combined  and  inconceivable 
splendor. 

We  read,  also,  "  The  Son  of  man  shall  come  i  i  \V> 
in  the  glory  of  his  Father."    He  is  the  brightness 
of  the  Father's  glory.     In  him  dwelleth  all  the 
fulness  of  the  Godhead  bodily.     But  when  made 


THE    ADVENT    IN    GLORY.  01 

in  the  likeness  of  sinful  flesh,  and  under  all  the 
humbling  circumstances  of  his  first  advent,  the 
manifested  Deity,  though  sufficiently  attested, 
was  greatly  veiled.  Rightly  had  he  been  fore- 
told as  Wonderful,  Counsellor,  the  Mighty  God, 
the  Everlasting  Father.  Beams  from  the  Sun  of 
Righteousness  shone  through  the  clouds  on  the 
banks  of  Jordan,  on  the  mount  of  transfiguration, 
and  at  the  grave  of  Lazarus.  Yet  those  were 
mere  straggling  rays.  The  light  shined  in  dark- 
ness, and  the  darkness  apprehended  it  not.  But 
when  Christ  shall  come  again,  it  will  be  as  the 
sun  shine th  in  his  strength — yea,  as  the  meridian 
splendor  of  seven  suns. 

In  his  first  manifestation,  Christ  was  compara- 
tively unattended.  He  came  to  his  own,  and  his 
own  received  him  not.  Many  a  solitary  hour  — 
and  oh,  what  solitude  !  —  did  he  spend.  In  soli- 
tude was  he  assaulted  by  Satan,  and  agonized 
in  the  garden.  But,  "The  Son  of  man  shall 
come  in  his  glory,  and  all  the  holy  angels  with 
him."  "  Thousand  thousands  shall  minister  unto 
him ;  ten  thousand  times  ten  thousand  will  stand 

before  him."     Those  sons  of  God  who  sang  at 

6 


62  MORNING    HOUIiS    IN    PATMOS. 

creation,  and  shouted  for  joy ;  who  ministered  in 
pomp  and  terror  at  Sinai ;  who  joined  in  a  chorus 
over  the  plains  of  Bethlehem ;  who  ministered 
to  the  exhausted  sufferer  after  his  temptation ; 
who  gathered  around  the  sepulchre  at  his  resur- 
rection ;  who  hailed,  and  heralded,  and  convoyed 
him  back  to  glory,  shall  be  with  him,  —  all  with 
him,  in  their  chariots  of  fire,  when  he  cometh  in 
the  clouds  of  heaven.  Our  Jesus  shall  not  want 
for  attendants  then.  "Well  did  Paul  style  that 
"  the  glorious  appearing."  Well  did  our  Lord 
himself  pronounce  it  his  coming  "  with  power 
and  great  glory." 

THE   SAME    TO  BE  PONDERED. 

Should  it  not  have  a  prominent  place  in  the 
thoughts  of  all?  Do  not  Scripture  examples 
and  its  own  importance  demand  this  ?  Old 
Testament  saints  caught  glimpses  of  this  mag- 
nificent winding  up  of  the  last  times.  "  Enoch, 
the  seventh  from  Adam,  prophesied  of  these, 
saying,  Behold  the  Lord  cometh  with  ten  thou- 
sand of  his  saints." 


THE    ADVENT    IN    GLORY.  63 

The  patriarch  of  Uz  protested  :  "  I  know  that 
my  Redeemer  liveth,  and  that  he  shall  stand  at 
the  latter  day  upon  the  earth."  Was  it  not  of 
the  same  event  that  the  sweet  psalmist  of  Israel 
sung :  "  Our  God  shall  come  and  shall  not  keep 
silence  ;  a  fire  shall  devour  before  him,  and  it 
shall  be  very  tempestuous  round  about  him.  He 
shall  call  to  the  heavens  from  above,  and  to  the 
earth,  that  he  may  judge  his  people  "  ?  Daniel 
saw  in  the  night  visions,  and  beheld  one  like  the 
Son  of  man  come  with  the  clouds  of  heaven. 

The  New  Testament  abounds  in  appeals  and 
declarations  besides  those  already  cited,  relative 
to  this  august  revelation.  Our  Lord  speaks : 
"  Then  shall  appear  the  sign  of  the  Son  of  man  in 
heaven ;  and  then  shall  all  the  tribes  of  the  earth 
mourn."  Paul  gives  an  exhortation  in  view  of 
"  the  coming  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  with  all 
his  saints."  Peter  makes  a  similar  appeal:  "That 
the  trial  of  your  faith  being  much  more  precious 
than  of  gold  that  perisheth,  though  it  be  tried 
with  fire,  might  be  found  unto  praise,  and  honor, 
and  glory,  at  the  appearing  of  Jesus  Christ." 
This  book  of  the  Apocalypse,  and  the  entire  holy 


(34  MORNING   HOURS    IN  PATMOS. 

canon,  closes  with  — "  He  that  testifieth  these 
things,  saith,  Surely  I  come  quickly :  Amen. 
Even  so,  come,  Lord  Jesus." 

If  that  stupendous  scene  were  only  a  pos- 
sibility ;  if  it  lay  only  in  the  regions  of  an 
inductive  probability ;  or  if,  granting  it  to  be 
certain,  a  few  only  were  to  be  spectators,  it 
might  with  greater  propriety  be  dismissed  from 
the  thoughts.  But  when  it  is  recollected  that 
Christ  will  assuredly  come,  that  every  eye  shall 
see  him,  that  every  child  of  Adam  has  interests 
of  supreme  moment  which  will  be  then  definitely 
settled,  and  that  every  human  soul  will  then  be 
moved  with  emotions  surpassing  all  former  ex- 
perience —  is  there  not  felt  to  be  a  propriety  in 
frequent  meditations  upon  the  hour  when  Christ 
shall  come  in  the  clouds  of  heaven? 

A    TERROIt    TO    THE    WICKED. 

The  ulterior  bearings  of  the  advent  have  not 
now  been  dwelt  upon.  The  retributions  that 
Avill  follow,  the  fearful  catastrophes  and  sublime 
developments  which  will  signalize  the  consumma- 


THE    ADVENT    IX    GLORY.  65 

tloii  of  all  things,  have  at  most  onlj^  been  alluded 
to.  No  one,  however,  can,  if  he  would,  wholly 
separate  the  event  from  its  design  and  conse- 
quences. No  one  can  forget  that  while  every 
eye  shall  see  the  Lord  Jesus,  multitudes  will  see 
him  with  dismay.  The  consciences  of  all  will  at 
once  interpret  the  intent  of  that  last  apocalypse : 

"  Every  eye  shall  see  him,  and  they  also  which 
pierced   him." 

The  eye  of  fallen  angels  shall  see  him.  The 
prince  of  darkness,  who  assaulted  him  in  the 
wilderness,  and  with  all  his  hosts  showed  such 
special  activity  at  the  former  advent,  and  has 
ever  shown  such  firm  hostility  to  him,  will  then, 
in  raging  but  fruitless  malignity,  behold  him. 

Not  merely  the  Eoman  executioners  w^ho 
drove  the  nails,  and  the  soldier  who  thrust  the 
spear ;  but  all  of  every  age,  Jew  or  Gentile, 
who  have  uttered  hard  speeches  and  adopted 
harsh  measures  against  him  or  his  followers. 
Persecuting  ecclesiastics  —  Eomish,  Greek,  or  Ar- 
menian —  and  civil  rulers  who  give  their  power 
and   strength  to  the   beast,  shall   then    see   the 

G* 


QQ  MORNING   HOURS   IN   PATMOS. 

sceptre  of  iron  with  which  they  are  to  be  clashed 
in  pieces  Hke  a  potter's  vessel.  They  who  use 
Christ's  name  profanely,  and  they  who  teach 
another  gospel,  are  also  among  those  who  pierce 
him.  The  author  of  any  volume,  any  tract,  any 
paragraph  in  the  transient  sheets  of  the  day, 
designed  to  depreciate  the  high  character  and 
offices  of  Jesus  Christ,  should  now,  on  his  way  to 
judgment,  hear  a  voice  :  "  Why  persecutest  thou 
me?"  He  will  then  see  Him  whom  Saul  of 
Tarsus  saw  in  the  way  to  Damascus. 

Does  this  enumeration  exhaust  the  classes  who 
pierce  the  Saviour  ?  Is  the  refusal  to  obey  his 
voice,  and  trust  his  merits,  any  less  a  w^ound  to 
him  than  the  driving  of  the  nails  ?  It  was  not 
alone  in  the  judgment-hall  of  Pilate  that  the  cry 
was  heard.  Crucify  him  !  crucify  him  !  It  echoes 
from  every  unreconciled  heart  in  Christendom. 
Jesus  told  Caiaphas,  and  the  chief  priests  and 
scribes,  and  the  false  witnesses  who  testified 
"  This  fellow  said,"  — "  Nevertheless,  I  say  unto 
3^ou,  hereafter  shall  ye  see  the  Son  of  man  sitting 
on  the  right  hand  of  power,  and  coming  in  the 
clouds  of  heaven ;   then  shall  all  the  tribes  of 


THE   ADVENT    IN    GLORY.  67 

the  earth  mourn."  The  enemies  to  his  cross,  in 
every  age  and  every  land,  will  then  wail  because 
of  him. 

If  the  eye  of  an  impenitent  person  glances 
upon  this  page,  I  would  ask,  What  will  be  your 
feelings  when  you  behold  "  the  Son  of  man  com- 
ing in  the  clouds  of  heaven  with  power  and  great 
glory"?  If  such  trembling  laid  hold  of  Bel- 
shazzar,  what  will  seize  you  ?  Will  you  not  cry, 
"  There  is  Jesus  Christ,  the  Saviour  of  whom  I 
read,  of  whom  I  heard !  That  is  the  Christ 
crucified,  whom  my  pastor  preached.  That  is  he 
who  I  knew  would  come  in  the  clouds.  There 
are  the  angels ;  and  there  is  the  flaming  fire. 
Mountains  and  rocks,  fall  on  me,  and  hide  me 
from  the  wrath  of  the  Lamb  ! " 


JOYFUL    TO   BELIEVERS, 

"  Even   so.     Amen  !  " 

Such  wull  then  be  the  exclamation  of  all  saints 
in  Christ  Jesus.  Those  of  them  who  have 
already  fallen  asleep  in  him,  and  those  who  from 


68  MORNING    HOURS    IN    PATMOS. 

this  up  to  the  time  of  his  second  advent  shall  so 
depart,  will  continue  to  look  forward  with  deep 
interest  to  that  era.  There  is  one,  and  only  one, 
more  great  crisis  for  them  to  pass  through.  They 
have  died,  but  they  are  not  yet  furnished  with 
those  resurrection  tenements  in  w^hich  will  be 
seen  and  enjoyed  what  cannot  be  realized  before. 
Not  till  then  will  the  utmost  of  grace  be  experi- 
enced in  their  souls,  or  of  divine  wisdom  and 
power  in  their  bodies. 

Saints  on  earth  are  bidden  to  be  looking  for 
that  blessed  hope,  and  the  glorious  appearing  of 
the  great  God,  even  our  Saviour  Jesus  Christ. 
And  when  he  who  is  their  life  shall  appear,  then 
will  their  joyful  exclamation  be  :  "  Lo,  this  is  our 
God  !  we  have  waited  for  him ;  he  will  save  us  ! 
This  is  the  Lord ;  we  have  waited  for  him ;  we 
will  be  glad  and  rejoice  in  his  salvation  ! " 

Luther  used  to  say '  that  no  man  could  be  a 
Christian  who  did  not  with  his  whole  heart  de- 
sire that  coming  of  the  Lord  Jesus.  "  Hasten,  0 
Lord,"  prays  Richard  Baxter, — "  Hasten,  0  Lord, 
this  blessed  day  !  Stay  not  till  faith  have  left  the 
earth,  and  infidelity,  and  impiety,  and  tyranny 


THE    ADVENT    IX    GLORY.  69 

have  conquered  the  rest  of  thine  inheritance  ! 
Stay  not  till  selfish,  uncharitable  pride  hath  van- 
quished love  and  self-denial,  and  planted  its 
colonies  of  heresy,  confusion,  and  cruelty  in  thy 
dominions,  and  earth  and  hell  be  turned  into  one! 
Stay  not  till  the  eyes  of  thy  servants  fail,  and 
their  hearts  and  hopes  do  faint  and  languish  with 
looking  and  waiting  for  thy  salvation !  But  if 
the  day  be  not  at  hand,  oh  !  keep  faith,  and  hope, 
and  love,  till  the  Sun  of  perfect  love  arise,  and 
time  hath  prepared  us  for  eternity,  and  grace  for 
glory ! " 

THE   ADVENTS    CONTRASTED. 

That  august  era  is  styled,  "  The  day  of  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ."  It  is  to  be  his  for  the  full 
and  fitting  vindication  of  regal  rights.  He  will 
come  with  power  to  raise  the  dead,  bind  Satan 
forever,  destroy  the  world,  and  reward  the  right- 
eous. He  will  come  to  be  glorified  in  his  saints, 
and  to  be  admired  in  all  them  that  believe.  It 
will  be  the  grand  jubilee, —  his  harvest-time  of 
glory.  He  came  once  in  humility ;  he  will  then 
come  in  majesty.     Aforetime  he  came  lowly,  and 


70  MORNING   HOURS    IN   PATMOS. 

riding  upon  an  ass.  He  had  no  form  nor  come- 
liness ;  he  was  a  man  of  sorrows,  and  acquainted 
with  grief  But  ere  long  he  shall  come  with 
clouds,  on  the  throne  of  his  glory ;  with  many 
crowns  upon  his  head ;  in  all  the  transcendent 
manifestation  of  his  deity. 

The  Jews,  in  their  blindness,  conceived  the  idea 
of  a  duplicate  Messiah  —  one  the  son  of  Joseph, 
the  other  of  David ;  one  of  the  tribe  of  Eph- 
raim,  the  other  of  Judah.  We  find,  however, 
that  while  there  is  but  one  Messiah,  a  twofold 
advent  has  been  appointed  him.  He  of  whom 
Moses  in  the  law,  and  the  prophets  did  write,  — 
Jesus  of  Nazareth,  He  of  Gethsemane,  He  of 
Golgotha,  He  who  cried  '^  I  thirst,"  —  is  the  Lion 
of  the  tribe  of  Judah,  whom  myriads  of  shining 
ones  shall  attend,  and  from  whose  face  the 
heavens  and  earth  shall  flee  away.  "  Even  so, 
Amen."  0,  heaving  and  trembling  Earth !  a 
period  will  come,  ere  long,  to  thy  errors  and  thy 
follies  !  To  thy  feverish  haste,  to  thy  maddened 
Avandering,  to  thy  midnight  revelries,  debauch- 
eries and  murders ;  to  the  scourging  of  thy  bond- 
servants, to  the  charge  of  thine  armies,  there  is 


THE   ADVENT    IN   GLORY.  71 

an  end  at  hand.  In  the  Lord's  own  tnne  let  it 
be ;  and  let  not  a  tear  be  shed  when  the  funeral- 
torch  is  applied.  "  He  that  testifieth  these  things, 
saith,  "  Surely,  I  come  quickly ! " 


THE   ALPHA   AND    OMEGA. 

And  wdio  is  this  that  cometh,  not  from  Edom, 
but  from  heaven  ?  It  is  the  one  whose  "  goings 
forth  have  been  from  of  old,  from  everlasting." 
His  attributes  of  eternity  and  independence  are 
affirmed  and  reaffirmed  by  Christ  in  this  chapter 
with  noticeable  distinctness. 

"I  am  Alpha,"  "The  Begimiing,"  "The  First." 

"  Before  Abraham  w^as,  I  am."  When  about  to 
ascend  to  his  home  on  high,  while  offering  a  val- 
edictory prayer,  he  asks  to  be  reinstated  in  the 
glory  w^hich  he  had  "  before  the  world  was."  In 
that  glory  he  shared,  by  community  of  existence, 
and  by  parity  of  power:  "1  and  my  Father  are 
one." 

"  I   am  the  Omega,"  «  The  Ending,"  "  The  Last," 


T2  MORNING   HOURS   IN  PATMOS. 

"  saitli  the  Lord,  which  is,  and  which  was,  and  which 
is  to  come." 

A  past  eternity  of  being,  involves,  by  neces- 
sity, one  to  come.  Through  all  ages  yet  to  be, 
through  all  the  developments  of  immeasurable 
cycles,  will  the  Lord  Jesus  live  and  reign.  The 
close  of  the  present  dispensation  will  be  an  early 
date  in  the  future  existence  of  Messiah,  to  whom 
it  was  announced,  "  Thy  throne,  0  God,  is  for 
ever  and  ever." 

In  view  of  our  own  future  endless  existence 
we  are  awed.  We  stand  amazed  at  the  thought 
of  continuing  conscious  and  active  for  thousands 
of  years  ;  yea,  for  ever  and  ever.  "We  can  look, 
however,  merely  in  one  direction  at  a  time.  Our 
little  tabernacle  has  only  one  front.  But  the 
Word,  from  everlasting  to  everlasting,  is  God. 
What  grandeur  is  there  in  this  attribute  of  the 
enthroned  Jesus  !  Uncaused  and  undecaying ; 
forever  a  stranger  alike  to  the  inexperience  of 
youth,  and  the  infirmities  of  age ;  surveying  in 
one  perpetual  glance  the  universe  of  infinite 
space  and  infinite  duration,  —  he  sits  upon  his 
throne,  environed   with   all   conceivable  glories, 


THE    ADVENT    IN    GLORY.  73 

without  a  want,  and  without  a  shadow  of  turninfr. 


through  all  generations  to  come  ! 

"  The  Almighty."  "  All  things  were  made  by 
him;"  "By  him  all  things  consist."  Tremble, 
then,  ye  heathen  who  rage,  and  ye  rulers  who 
take  counsel  together  against  the  Lord,  and 
against  his  Anointed  !  tremble,  thou  Man  of  Sin, 
who  exaltest  thyself  above  all  that  is  called  God ! 
tremble,  ye  kings  and  emperors  in  league  with 
the  Roman  Pontiff!  —  the  Lord  will  have  you  all 
in  derision.  One  breath  of  his  mouth  is  sufl&cient 
to  consume  you. 

Ye  downcast  believers,  take  heart !  give  to 
faith  and  joy  their  exulting  scope.  This  divinely 
majestic  Being,  with  such  a  volume  of  perfections, 
"  having  neither  beginning  of  days  nor  end  of 
life,"  is  your  personal  friend.  He  stooped  and 
took  our  nature ;  in  it  performed  the  mighty 
work  of  expiation ;  with  it  ascended  to  glory, 
and  with  it  now  mediates  between  the  two 
worlds.  One  hand  he  lays  on  us,  and  one  on  the 
throne  above  -,  and  thus  comes  reconciliation  and 
communication  between  us  and  Heaven.  With 
what  calm  confidence  may  we  trust  all  to  Him  ! 


74  MORNING  HOURS   IN   PATMOS. 

Here  is  a  firm  buttress  for  our  hopes ;  here  is 
a  solid  arch  thrown  across  an  awful  chasm.  Ages 
will  not  weaken,  convulsions  cannot  demolish  it. 
When  He  shall  come  with  clouds,  when  the 
heavens  shall  pass  away,  and  the  earth  be  burned 
up,  our  hiding-place  will  be  secure. 

Will  any  one  at  that  time  doubt  Christ's 
supreme  divinity  ?  That  which  books  and  argu- 
ments could  not  do,  that  which  God's  declarations 
and  Christ's  former  miracles  failed  to  effect,  must 
surely  be  accomplished  then.  The  imiversal 
creed,  on  that  awful  but  welcome  morning,  will 
read,  "  Truly  this  is  the  Eternal  Son  5  this  is 
the  Almighty  God." 


TEE    VISION   AND    THE   SEER. 

I  John,  who  also  am  your  brother,  and  companion 
in  tribulation,  and  in  the  kingdom  and  patience  of 
Jesus  Christ,  was  in  the  isle  that  is  called  Patmos, 
for  the  word  of  God,  and  for  the  testimony  of  Jesus 
Christ.  I  was  in  the  Spirit  on  the  Lord's  day,  and 
heard  behind  me  a  great  voice,  as  of  a  trumpet,  saying, 
I  am  Alpha  and  Omega,  the  first  and  the  last ;  and. 
What  thou  seest,  write  in  a  book,  and  send  it  unto  the 
seven  churches  which  are  in  Asia ;  unto  Ephesus,  and 
unto  Smyrna,  and  unto  Pergamos,  and  unto  Thyatira, 
and  unto  Sardis,  and  unto  Philadelphia,  and  unto 
Laodicea.  And  I  turned  to  see  the  voice  that  spake 
with  me.  And,  being  turned,  I  saw  seven  golden 
candlesticks  ;  and  in  the  midst  of  the  seven  candle- 
sticks one  hke  unto  the  Son  of  man,  clothed  with  a 
garment  down  to  the  foot,  and  girt  about  the  paps 
with  a  golden  girdle.  His  head  and  his  hairs  were 
white  like  wool,  as  white  as  snow  ;  and  his  eyes  were 


76  MORNING  HOURS   IN   PATMOS. 

as  a  flame  of  fire  ;  and  liis  feet  like  unto  fine  brass,  as 
if  tliej  burned  in  a  furnace  ;  and  his  voice  as  the  sound 
of  many  waters.  And  he  had  in  his  right  hand  seven 
stars;  and  out  of  his  mouth  went  a  sharp  two-edged 
sword  ;  and  his  countenance  was  as  the  sun  shineth  in 
his  strength.     Rev.  1 :  9 — 16. 


APOSTOLIC  SYMPATHY. 

Turning  our  eyes  to  Rome,  we  behold  a  man 
invested  with  the  imperial  purple,  whose  emi- 
nence in  civil  position  is  surpassed  only  by  his 
eminent  wickedness.  Gloomy,  suspicious,  and 
stained  by  vices,  Domitian  became  the  most 
unscrupulous  and  cruel  of  tyrants.  His  gov- 
ernment, supported  only  by  spies  and  assassins, 
and  by  the  bribery  of  a  debased  populace  and 
soldiery,  marked  one  of  the  most  frightful  periods 
of  human  history.  Without  one  virtue  to  give 
moral  force  to  his  mandates,  he  held  sway  from 
the  Atlantic  to  the  Euphrates,  and  from  the  Ger- 
man Ocean  to  Mount  Atlas. 

Near  the  close  of  that  monarch's  reign,  as  we 
suppose,  the  last  surviving  apostle,  sympathizing 


THE    VISION   AND    THE    SEER.  77 

deeply  with  fellow-christians  who  are  persecuted 
by  heathen  Kome,  is  a  prisoner,  in  "  the  isle  that 
is  called  Patmos,  for  the  word  of  God,  and  for  the 
testimony  of  Jesus  Christ."  Which  is  the  more 
enviable  man  ?  To  which  pertains  most  of  true 
royalty  ?  "  The  name  of  the  wicked  shall  rot ; " 
"The  righteous  shall  be  in  everlasting  remem- 
brance." 

"  I  John,  who  am  your  brother,  and  companion  in 
tribulation  and  in  the  kingdom  and  patience  of  Jesus 
Christ." 

Though  an  apostle,  and  though  full  ninety 
years  of  age,  he  does  not  here  style  himself  their 
father,  or  instructor;  but  puts  himself  upon  a 
level  with  his  readers.  He  had  labored  among 
them  ;  his  heart  is  with  them ;  and  now  that 
they  are  suffering  under  the  same  persecution 
that  has  sent  him  into  exile,  his  sympathies  are 
drawn  out  to  them  with  peculiar  warmth. 

There  is  nothing  like  community  in  suffering 
to  make  Christian  attachments  firm,  to  cement 
the  higher  and  holier  bonds,  and  to  make  the 

feelings  of  brotherhood  paramount  to  all  others. 

7* 


78  MORNING   HOURS   IN  PATMOS. 

No  one  of  the  Lord's  people  lives  or  clies^  suffers 
or  triumphs,  for  himself  alone.  There  is  a  quick 
sympathy  pervading  the  great  brotherhood,  which 
distributes,  and  in  some  measure  equalizes,  the 
benefits  of  tribulation.  Not  only  do  we  "  take 
the  prophets  who  have  spoken  in  the  name  of 
the  Lord,  for  an  example  of  suffering  affliction, 
and  of  patience ; "  we  claim  kindred  w^ith  them ; 
we  gratefully  acknowledge  ourselves  their  debt- 
ors. It  was  for  me  that  the  patriarch  of  Uz  so 
endured  under  the  hand  of  God.  I  claim  a  share 
in  John  the  Baptist's  imprisonment,  in  the  shower 
of  stones  under  which  Stephen  fell  asleep,  and  in 
every  pang  of  the  glorious  army  of  martyrs. 
The  whole  great  family  cry  unto  God  with  one 
voice,  "  Our  Father  who  art  in  heaven,"  and  unto 
the  risen  Saviour,  "  My  Lord,  and  my  God."  All 
say  to  each,  "Our  brother;"  each  says  to  all,  "I 
am  your  brother  in  tribulation,  and  in  the  king- 
dom and  patience  of  Jesus  Christ."  Blessed 
privilege  of  a  share  in  the  great  loan-fund  of 
sanctified  sufferings,  in  the  joint-stock  fraternity 
of  tribulation,  and  the  patience  of  Jesus  Christ ! 
Let  me  not  lose  the  benefits  of  the  imj^risonment. 


THE    VISION    AND    THE    SEER.  79 

bastinado  and  anathematizing  of  brethren  and 
sisters  in  Christ,  who  now  hve  for  us  amidst 
habitations  of  cruelty. 

"  In  the  kingdom  and  patience  of  Jesus  Christ." 
Here  is  a  fellowship  not  only  of  sufferings,  but 
also  of  honor  and  privilege.  The  royal  rank  of 
true  Christians  is  a  reality  of  the  present,  as  well 
as  a  prospective  heirship.  Believers  are  too 
nearly  related  to  the  only  Potentate,  not  to  stand 
as  high  as  mortals  can  stand  in  this  world.  They 
are  a  commonwealth  of  royal  priests  and  of 
sacerdotal  kings ;  and  with  reference  to  them  is 
Christ  King  of  kings,  But  as  Christ's  regal 
office  was  under  an  eclipse  during  his  sojourn 
on  earth,  so  is  it  with  the  whole  family ;  and 
hence,  in  their  present  state  there  is  large  occa- 
sion for  patience. 

CHRIST'S   SYMPATHY. 

"  In  the  kingdom  and  in  the  patience  of  Jesus 
Christ." 

So  closely  are  Christ  and  Christians  bound 
together,  so  lively  and  intimate  is  the  sympathy 


80  MORNING    HOURS    IN   PATMOS. 

between  them,  that  he  suffers  in  then'  sufferings, 
and  endures  in  their  endurance.  Neither  can  be 
touched  in  a  way  that  the  other  does  not  feel  it. 
All  the  patience  exliibited  in  that  kingdom  which 
is  not  of  this  world,  has  its  home  and  origin  in 
one  heart  —  even  in  his  who  endured  such  con- 
tradiction of  sinners  against  himself — and  who, 
as  the  Great  Captain  of  Salvation,  was  made  per- 
fect through  sufferings.  To  the  Pharisee,  on  his 
way  to  Damascus  in  hot  haste  and  a  frenzy  of 
wrath,  Christ  speaks :  "  Saul,  Saul !  why  persecut- 
est  thou  me?" 

Do  you  wish  sympathy  ?  —  You  have  it,  and 
from  One  tempted  in  all  points  like  as  you  are ; 
you  have  it  far  more  cordially,  wisely,  and  effec- 
tively, than  can  be  rendered  by  any  fellow-sufferer 
who  has  not  the  experience  and  the  heart  of  our 
Elder  Brother.  It  falls,  indeed,  sweetly  on  the 
ear  of  persecuted  saints  in  Proconsular  Asia,  and 
on  ours,  to  hear  the  beloved  disciple,  the  most 
honored  of  prophets,  profess  himself  "your  brother 
and  companion  in  tribulation  ;"  but  our  hearts 
dissolve,  and  withal  soon  grow  triumphant  also, 
as  we  hear  him  announcing  a  fellowship  "  in  the 


THEVISION    AND    THE    SEER.  81 

kingdom  and  patience  of  Jesus  Christ."  Assur- 
ance gathers  strength.  From  the  highest  author- 
ity is  the  pledge  given^  "  If  we  suffer,  we  shall 
also  reign  with  him." 

Our  suffering  "  brother  and  companion  in  trib- 
ulation, was  in  the  isle  that  is  called  Patmos,"  — 
an  island  of  small  extent,  one  that  the  ancient 
geographers  say  little  about ;  a  barren  spot,  with 
few  inhabitants,  and  perhaps  the  majority  of 
them  criminals.  But,  because  this  persecuted  old 
man  was  banished  there, — because  there  he  had 
such  visions  of  Christ's  glory,  and  the  church's 
later  history,  and  final  consummated  blessedness, 
— that  insignificant  island  has  become  memorable 
beyond  any  gem  of  the  ocean.  A  few  years 
more,  and  it  will  seldom  be  mentioned  that  St. 
Helena  was  once  the  abode  of  a  distinguished 
exile ',  but  Patmos  will  be  a  household  word 
through  eternity.  And  how  many  of  the  dreary, 
doleful  places  of  earth  —  as  Joseph's  dungeon, 
Paul's  prison,  and  Bunyan's  cell  in  Bedford  jail  — 
will  be  subjects  of  resplendent  pictures  in  the 
mansions  of  our  Father's  house  ! 


82  MORNING   HOURS    IN   PATMOS. 

THE    CAUSE    OF  BANISHMENT. 

How  came  John  in  penal  confinement  on  Pat- 
mos  ?  Of  what  crime  had  he  been  guilty  ?  "  For 
the  word  of  God,  and  the  testimony  of  Jesus 
Christ."  Because  he  obeyed  and  preached  the 
word  of  God,  —  the  God  abhorring  idolatry,  and 
demanding  spiritual  worship,  —  because  he  testi- 
fied that  Jesus  Christ  is  the  only  Saviour,  whose 
blood  cleanseth  from  all  sin,  and  "  that  this  is  the 
true  God  and  eternal  life,"  —  therefore  is  he  at 
Patmos ;  that  is  the  seditious  occupation,  the  high 
crime  and  misdemeanor  which  has  subjected  him 
to  banishment.  Was  he  also  an  exile  from  the 
presence  of  the  Comforter,  or  the  joys  of  holy 
time  ? 

THE   DAY   OF    VISION. 

"  I  was   in   the    Spirit   on   the   Lord's   day." 

Honored  day !  appointed  by  the  Lord,  and  for 
the  Lord ;  the  witness  that  Christ  is  the  first- 
begotten  from  the  dead  ;  the  grand  memorial  of 
the  finished  work  of  redemption ;  the  seal  set 
upon  the  great  charter  of  blessings  under  the 


THE   VISION    AND    THE    SEER.  83 

new  covenant.  Queen  of  days  !  pearl  of  days  ! 
what  a  hallowed  influence  does  it  bring  !  What 
refreshing  communications  come  from  on  high  to 
the  souls  of  believers  at  home  and  in  exile,  in 
the  prison  and  on  ship-board  !  How  many  thou- 
sands of  God's  children  find  a  weekly  banquet 
spread  for  them ;  and  what  other  thousands,  if 
they  would  but  come,  might  find  bread  enough 
and  to  spare ! 

John  was  "  in  the  Spirit."  This  denotes  some- 
thing more  than  ordinary  spiritual  influences.  It 
was  a  peculiar,  and  supernatural  state,  which  may 
be  termed  an  ecstasy.  It  was,  doubtless,  the 
same,  or  a  similar  condition,  to  that  when  Peter 
fell  ^^into  a  trance,"  "and  in  a  trance  saw  a 
vision ; "  and  when  Paul,  while  praying  in  the 
temple,  "  was  in  a  trance  ; " — the  individual  being 
raised  above  himself  in  a  preternatural  manner, 
the  faculties  divinely  quickened  and  sustained, 
and  under  the  immediate  illumination  of  the 
Holy  Spirit.  Such  was  the  state  of  prophetic  in- 
spiration experienced,  for  instance,  by  Ezekiel : 
"  The  heavens  were  opened,  and  I  saw  the  visions 
of  God  ; "  "  And  the  Spirit  lifted  me  up  between 


81  MORNING   HOURS    IN   PATMOS. 

the  earth  and  the  heaven,  and  brought  me  in  the 
visions  of  God  to  Jerusalem." 


THE    COMMISSION. 

"  And  heard  behind  me  a  great  voice,  as  of  a  trum- 
pet, saying,  I  am  Alpha  and  Omega,  the  first  and  the 
last ;  and.  What  thou  seest,  write  in  a  book,  and  send 
it  unto  the  seven  churches  which  are  in  Asia ;  unto 
Ephesus,  and  unto  Smyrna,  and  unto  Pergamos,  and 
unto  Thyatira,  and  unto  Sardis,  and  unto  Philadelphia, 
and  unto  Laodicea." 

It  was  by  the  voice  of  the  trumpet  exceeding 
loud  that  the  people  were  summoned  to  receive 
the  law  at  Sinai.  And  generally  that  was  the 
signal  for  calling  attention  to  divine  appoint- 
ments and  announcements.  So,  too,  "  when  the 
Son  of  man  shall  come  in  the  clouds  of  heaven, 
with  power  and  great  glory,  he  shall  send  his 
angels  with  a  great  sound  of  a  trumpet."  The 
introduction  of  this  signal  here  betokens  an  occa- 
sion peculiarly  august,  and  that  something  of 
special  importance  is  to  be  communicated. 


THE    VISION    AND    THE    SEER.  85 

"  What  thou  seest,  write  in  a  book."  The  same 
is  repeated  in  the  nineteenth  verse  :  "  Write  the 
things  which  thou  hast  seen,  and  the  things 
which  are,  and  the  things  which  shall  be  here- 
after." The  subject-matter  of  the  Apocalypse, 
therefore,  and  its  form,  are  not  the  result  of 
study,  or  of  long  preparation  in  any  way ;  it  was 
an  immediate  and  direct  revelation,  being  "  the 
record  of  the  word  of  God,  and  of  the  testimony 
of  Jesus  Christ." 

The  order  in  which  the  seven  churches  are 
mentioned  is  not  arbitrary.  Ephesus  was  nearest 
Patmos,  and  in  sight  of  it,  the  chief  city  of  Pro- 
consular Asia.  Hence,  naturally,  it  stands  at  the 
head  of  the  list.  It  was  also  natural  to  proceed 
thence  northward  to  Smyrna,  the  other  maritime 
city,  and  thence  to  Pergamos  ^ —  these  three  being 
the  most  important  of  the  group.  The  remain- 
ing four  are  very  nearly  upon  a  line  running 
south-east  from  Pergamos,  and  in  the  same  order 
as  they  here  stand  :  Thyatira,  Sardis,  Philadel- 
phia, and  Laodicea. 

8 


86  MORNING   HOURS    IN   PATMOS. 


THE    OPENING    VISION. 


"  And  I  turned  to  see  the  voice  that  spake  with  me. 
And  being  turned,  I  saw  seven  golden  candlesticks." 

The  signification  of  this  symbol  is  given  by  the 
Lord  himself  in  the  twentieth  verse  :  "  The  seven 
candlesticks  which  thou  sawest  are  the  seven 
churches."  Among  the  temple  furniture  was  a 
golden  lamp-stand,  with  seven  branches.  It  is 
not  improbable  that  here  seven  distinct  candle- 
sticks were  presented  to  view,  because  of  an 
equal  number  of  distinct  churches  symbolized, 
and  to  be  addressed  ',  while  it  is  possible  that  by 
the  material,  gold,  is  betokened  requisite  purity 
—  a  pure  membership,  pure  niinistry,  and  pure 
ordinances.  There  follows  —  thirteenth  verse  to 
the  sixteenth  —  a  further  description  of  what 
John  saw  ;  the  one  transcendent  figure  in  the 
scene  being  the  person  of  our  Lord  himself,  with 
the  most  impressive  majesty. 

"And  in  the  midst  of  the  seven  candlesticks  One 
like  unto  the  Son  of  man,  clothed  with  a  garment 
down  to  the  foot,  and  girt  about  the  paps  with  a  golden 
girdle." 


THE    VISION    AND    THE    SEER.  87 

The  long  robe  was  a  symbol  of  high  dignity 
in  general,  and  not  distinctively  of  priest  or 
prince.  To  be  girded  about  the  loins,  would 
indicate  preparedness  for  travelling  or  labor ;  but 
the  girdle,  as  here  described,  indicates  rather  the 
calmness  of  infinite  majesty,  the  perfect  ease  of 
omnipotence. 

"  His  head  and  his  hairs  were  white  like  wool,  as 
white  as  snow ;  and  his  eyes  were  as  a  flame  of  fire  ; 
and  his  feet  like  unto  fine  brass,  as  if  they  burned 
in  a  furnace  ;  and  his  voice  as  the  sound  of  many 
waters." 

Here  is  a  form  at  once  venerable  and  teriible. 
Wisdom  and  purity,  omniscience  and  vindicatory 
justice  beam  forth.  That  is  the  voice  which  will 
once  more  shake  not  the  earth  only,  but  also 
heaven.  That  is  the  face  before  which  heaven 
and  earth  will  yet  flee  away.  Those  are  the  feet 
beneath  which  Satan  and  all  enemies  are  to  be 
bruised.  Similar  imagery  is  continued  in  the 
sixteenth  verse. 

"  And  he  had  in  his  right  hand  seven  stars  ;  and 
out  of  his  mouth  went  a  sharp  two-edged  sword ;  and 


88  MORNING   HOURS    IN    PATH  OS. 

his    countenance    was    as    the    sun     shineth    in    his 
strength." 

The  first  symbol  here  is  explained  by  the 
same  divine  Interpreter  himself  in  the  twentieth 
verse :  "  The  seven  stars  are  the  angels  of  the 
seven  churches."  The  clause  might  properly  be 
translated,  He  had  on  his  right  hand  seven  stars ; 
and  the  image  would  then  be  that  of  a  signet- 
ring  or  rings,  embellished  with  brilliants.  Refer- 
ence may  be  made  to  Jeremiah,  twenty-second 
chapter :  "  As  I  live,  saith  the  Lord,  though 
Coniah  the  son  of  Jehoiakim,  king  of  Judah, 
were  the  signet  upon  my  right  hand,  yet  would 
I  pluck  thee  thence." 

The  sword  is  the  symbol  of  executive  justice  ; 
and  the  imagery  here  is  quite  consonant  with 
what  we  find  elsewhere  in  Holy  Writ,  respecting 
Messiah,  who  is  also  the  Prince  of  the  kings  of 
the  earth.  Thus  in  Isaiah  it  is  said :  "  With  right- 
eousness shall  he  judge  the  poor,  and  reprove 
with  equity  for  the  meek  of  the  earth ;  and  he 
shall  smite  the  earth  with  the  rod  of  his  mouth, 
and  with  the  breath  of  his  lips  shall  he  slay  the 
wicked." 


THE    VISION    AND    THE    SEER.  89 

How  does  the  judicial  and  regal  dignity  of 
Jesus  Christ  now  challenge  our  awe  !  The  Christ 
of  the  manger,  of  the  wilderness,  the  synagogue, 
the  Judgment-hall  and  Golgotha,  is  the  Christ 
of  history.  Humiliation  belongs  wholly  to  the 
past.  The  spirit  of  prophecy  has  testified  not 
only  to  his  sufferings,  but  to  the  glory  that 
should  follow.  With  identity  unimpaired,  the 
Christ  of  this  age  is  the  one  whose  eyes  are  as  a 
flame  of  fire ;  whose  feet  are  like  unto  fine  brass, 
as  if  they  burned  in  a  furnace ;  whose  counte- 
nance is  as  the  sun  shineth  in  his  strength. 
Would  the  spear  pierce  him  now?  Could  the 
soldiers  drive  those  nails  now  ?  What  bold  scof- 
fer can  now  smite  the  cheek  of  the  King  of 
kings?  He  who  did  not  break  a  bruised  reed, 
who  did  not  lift  up  his  voice  in  the  streets,  who 
was  led  like  a  lamb  to  the  slaughter,  now  has 
a  voice  as  the  sound  of  many  waters ;  out  of  his 
mouth  proceedeth  a  sharp  two-edged  sword  ;  and 
he  will  reign  till  he  hath  put  all  enemies  under 
his  feet. 

8* 


90  MORNING    HOURS    IN   P  ATM  OS. 

SUFFERINGS  HONORED. 

Though  exalted  thus,  and  armed  with  all 
might,  he  precipitates  nothing.  He  does  not 
hasten  prematurely  to  the  rescue  of  his  friends. 
For  their  individual  good,  and  the  general  good, 
he  sends  a  trial,  and  permits  it  to  continue,  but 
at  the  same  time  employs  the  sufferer  in  some 
high  service.  Special  divine  communications 
have  usually  been  connected  with  the  afflictions 
of  God's  people.  It  was  in  persecution  and  exile 
that  famishing  Elijah  sat  down  to  die ;  but  an 
angel  touched  him,  and  said,  "  Arise  and  eat ;  " 
and  soon  remarkable  demonstrations  of  the  divine 
presence  were  made.  It  w^as  immediately  after 
receiving  the  mantle  of  the  ascended  prophet, 
that  Elisha,  having  miraculously  divided  the 
waters  of  Jordan,  and  healed  those  of  Jericho, 
was  saluted  with,  '*  Go  up,  thou  bald  head  ! " 
From  what  high  communion  did  Daniel  go  to  the 
lions'  den  !  In  the  midst  of,  and  because  of  the 
messages  from  heaven  announced  by  him,  Jere- 
miah was  scourged,  "  put  into  the  stocks  that  are 
in  the  high  gate  of  Benjamin,"  "  and  the  priests 


THE    VISION    AND    THE    SEER.  91 

and  the  prophets,  and  all  the  people  took  him, 
sajing,  Thou  shalt  surely  die  j"  and  Zedekiah 
imprisoned  him,  and  the  princes  thrust  him  into 
a  dungeon.  It  was  close  upon  the  abundance  of 
revelations  enjoyed  by  Paul,  when  caught  up  into 
Paradise,  that  he  received  a  thorn  in  the  flesh,  a 
messenger  of  Satan  to  buffet  him.  So  in  banish- 
ment John  beholds  scenes  such  as  were  never 
granted  to  other  eyes.  It  is  in  the  depths  of 
bitter  experience,  and  an  experience  of  sweetly 
sustaining  grace,  that  he  speaks.  He  sj^eaks  as 
a  martyr ;  and  this  is  the  Holy  Spirit's  Book  of 
Martyrs.  A  crimson  hue  pervades  a  large  j^art  of 
the  scroll ;  it  registers  awful  struggles  and  groans, 
but  also  the  most  enrapturing  announcements 
that  ever  fell  upon  the  ear  of  man.  How  ill  could 
the  militant  church  afford  to  do  without  the  trib- 
ulation of  Christ's  prophets,  apostles,  and  minis- 
ters !  Suffering  for  the  word  of  God  and  the 
testimony  of  Jesus  Christ,  is  the  highest  style  of 
preaching.  Christ's  more  eminent  servants  spe- 
cially need  it;  without  it  the  church  at  large 
might  become  extinct. 


C^apfer  Jfifflj. 

THE  LORD    OF  LIFE. 

And  when  I  saw  him,  I  fell  at  his  feet  as  dead. 
And  he  laid  his  right  hand  upon  me,  saying  unto  me, 
Fear  not ;  I  am  the  first  and  the  last ;  I  am  He  that 
liveth  and  was  dead ;  and  behold  I  am  alive  for  ever- 
more, Amen  ;  and  have  the  keys  of  hell  and  of  death. 
Eev.  1  :  17, 18. 

strength  and  comfort. 

Holier  men  than  perhaps  any  now  living, 
have  been  overpowered  by  a  sight  of  the  Son 
of  God.  It  was  his  glory  that  Isaiah  saw  when 
he  cried,  "  Woe  is  me !  for  I  am  undone ;  for 
mine  eyes  have  seen  the  King,  the  Lord  of 
hosts."  More  than  once  did  Ezekiel  fall  on  his 
face  at  a  similar  discovery;  whilst  John  now 
swoons  under  the  intensity  of  grandeur  which 
he  beholds.  The  man  of  ninety  years,  the 
bosom-friend   of   Christ  when   on   earth,  —  who 


THE  LORD    OF    LIFE.  93 

travelled  much  with  him,  who  saw  him  on  the 
momit  of  transfiguratioiij  who  writes  with  so 
much  affection  of  that  "which  we  have  seen 
with  our  eyes,  which  we  have  looked  upon,  and 
our  hands  have  handled  of  the  Word  of  life," — 
falls  as  dead  at  the  sight  of  his  Lord !  It  was 
not  strange  that  when  Christ  said  to  Judas  and 
his  company,  "I  am  he,"  they  went  backward, 
and  fell  to  the  ground ;  though  our  Lord  was 
then  in  his  humiliation.  It  was  not  strange 
that  Saul  of  Tarsus,  when  he  saw  in  the  way  a 
light  from  heaven  above  the  brightness  of  the 
sun,  fell  to  the  earth,  trembling  and  astonished. 
But  what  means  it  that  John  should  become  as 
a  dead  man  ? 

Surely  the  Lord  will  comfort  this  aged  apostle. 
But  how  will  he  do  it  ?  Does  he  say  to  him. 
You  have  preached  abundantly  and  acceptably ; 
you  have  written  an  invaluable  gospel,  and 
epistles  that  breathe  the  very  spirit  of  Heaven ; 
your  example,  and  your  exhortations  to  love 
have  had  a  wide  and  happy  effect ;  you  have 
presided  well  over  the  churches  of  Asia;  you 
are  deeply  respected,  tenderly  beloved,  by  multi- 


94  MORNING    HOURS    IN    PATMOS. 

tudes  in  Judea  and  Syria,  in  Greece  and  Kome  ? 
No ;  John  does  not  yet  stand  before  Christ  in 
judgment ;  the  time  has  not  yet  come  for  the 
sentence,  "Well  done,  good  and  faithful  ser- 
vant;" there  are  still  elements,  even  in  that 
bosom,  which  render  it  not  perfectly  safe  to  deal 
in  commendation.  This  venerable  man  of  God, 
like  ourselves,  will  suffer  less  from  banishment 
than  he  would  from  compliments.  It  is  only 
in  solitude,  and  under  the  heavy  hand  of  perse- 
cution, that  there  will  be  no  risk  in  his  wii>- 
nessing  what  is  about  to  be  disclosed. 

"  And  he  laid  his  right  hand  upon  me,  saying  unto 
me,  Fear  not." 

That  touch !  how  gentle  it  was !  what  a  sense 
of  might  did  it  convey !  The  hand  that  touched 
blind  eyes,  and  they  opened ;  that  touched  a  life- 
less form  on  the  couch  and  another  on  the  bier, 
and  the  dead  stood  up  alive  in  the  midst  of  re- 
joicing friends;  the  hand  that  holds  high  the 
mediatorial  sceptre ;  that  waves  in  this  direction, 
and  armies  flee  apace;   in  that,  and  the  moun- 


THE    LORD    OF    LIFE.  95 

tains  are  moved, — is  the  right  hand  now  laid  on 
the  seer  in  Patmos. 

Disciple  of  the  Lord !  sinking  at  times  imder 
a  sense  of  his  glorious  presence,  at  times  in  the 
deep  waters  of  trial,  faint-hearted  now  and  then, 
and  ready  to  slip  in  the  narrow  way — do  you  not 
find  a  right  hand  laid  on  you,  gently  yet  firmly  ? 
What  strength  does  it  impart!  How  many 
thousands  has  it  calmed  and  rescued !  What 
would  become  of  every  believer,  but  for  thy 
mighty  hand,  0  Immanuel ! 

"  And  he  said  unto  me.  Fear  not."  That  voice 
sounds  familiarly.  It  once  spake,  "When  they 
persecute  you,  fear  them  not ; "  "  fear  not  them 
which  kill  the  body,  but  are  not  able  to  kill 
the  soul ; "  "  fear  ye  not,  ye  are  of  more  value 
than  many  sparrows."  It  once  said  to  Simon, 
"  Fear  not,"  and  to  Jairus,  "  Fear  not."  On  the 
mount  of  transfiguration  Jesus  touched  them^ — 
touched  this  same  John  —  and  said,  "  Arise,  and 
be  not  afraid."  On  the  stormy  lake  he  came 
walking,  and  saying,  "  It  is  I ;    be  not  afraid." 

You  have  heard  it,  have  you  not?  Did 
you   not   once   listen   to  the  words,  "  Daughter, 


96  MORNING   HOURS    IN   PATMOS, 

thy  sins  be  forgiven  thee"?  Have  you  not 
often  heard,  "  My  grace  is  sufficient  for  thee ; " 
"  Fear  not,  little  flock ;  it  is  your  Father's  good 
pleasure  to  give  you  the  kingdom"  ?  Have 
not  these  words  many  a  time  greeted  your  ears, 
"  Let  not  your  heart  be  troubled  "  ? 

Ye  fainting  and  fearful  5  ye  who  see  fiery  darts 
flying  thick;  ye  who  cry,  "All  thy  waves  are 
gone  over  me ; "  ye  who,  on  the  Way  to  Emmaus, 
are  holding  sad  discourse  about  your  buried 
master, — he  is  risen;  his  kind,  mighty  hand  is 
upon  you,  and  his  voice  is  saying,  "Fear  not"! 
Aged  disciple,  it  is  the  experience  of  one  who 
has  seen  fourscore  years  and  ten,  that  is  here 
presented  to  you.  And  probably  it  was  not 
surprise  alone  at  the  majesty  of  Christ's  person, 
which  overpowered  him,  but  also  a  vivid  concep- 
tion of  his  own  unworthiness.  And  when  you 
lift  up  your  eyes  to  the  same  glorified  Saviour, 
you  have  a  similar  sense  of  your  sins ;  a  despair- 
ing apprehension  comes  over  you;  you  fall  as 
dead  at  his  feet.  Yet  the  exiled  apostle,  the 
holy  prophet  who  had  been  more  than  three- 
score  years   maturing   in   grace,  felt   thus,  and 


THE    LORD    OF  LIFE.  97 

more  deeply,  too,  than  you.  But  he  felt  also, 
what  you  may  feel,  the  right  hand  of  Jesus 
upon  him;  he  heard,  what  you  too  may  hear, 
the  reassuring  words,  "  Fear  not." 

THE  ALPHA   AND    OMEGA. 

"  I  am  the  first  and  the  last." 

The  same  declaration  occurs  in  the  eighth 
verse,  and  one  similar  in  the  eleventh.  Thus 
repeatedly  does  our  Lord  claim  supreme  divin- 
ity. He  thinks  it  no  robbery  to  be  on  a  level 
with  the  Most  High;  yea,  one  with  Jehovah, 
whose  own  sublime  assertion  of  infinite  and  ever- 
lasting independence  is:  "Thus  saith  the  Lord 
the  King  of  Israel,  and  his  Eedeemer  the  Lord 
of  hosts :  I  am  the  first,  and  I  am  the  last ;  and 
beside  me  there  is  no  God."  When,  therefore, 
in  this  apocalyptic  address,  the  glorified  Re- 
deemer announces  himself  as  the  first  and  the 
last,  he  proclaims  his  Deity ;  for  what  else  is  his 
possession  of  the  highest  attributes,  his  perpetual 
presence,  and  his  rule  over  all  things  ? 

"  I  am  the  first ; "  there  is  none  higher  than  I 


98  MORNING   HOURS   IN   PAT  M  OS. 

in  rank.  No  one  preceded  me  in  time  ;  "  Before 
Abraham  was,  I  am."  No  inquiry  can  run  far- 
ther back  than  my  being;  in  me,  then,  let  all 
retrospective  thoughts  centre.  "  I  am  the  first," 
as  cause  of  all  things ;  for  without  me  was  not 
anything  made  that  was  made. 

"I  am  the  last."  —  I  Am  that  I  Am,  from 
everlasting  to  everlasting ;  eternity  is  the  meas- 
ure of  my  being.  In  me  let  all  aspirations 
terminate.  How  does  this  fortify  our  confi- 
dence !  John  was  addressed,  and  so  is  every 
believer  now,  by  Him  who  is  the  same  yester- 
day, to-day,  and  forever;  who  has  undertaken 
nothing  that  he  will  not  carry  through  to  its 
full  accomplishment.  His  word  still  is,  ''  Take 
ye  no  thought  for  the  morrow ;  fear  not ;  I 
am  the  first  and  the  last." 

OUR  RISEN  LORD. 

"  I  am  he  that  liveth  and  was  dead ;  and  behold 
I  am  alive  for  evermore.     Amen." 

"Was  dead;"  yes,  he  took  a  human,  and 
therefore  mortal  form.     Death  was  in  the  bond 


THE    LORD    OF    LIFE.  99 

under  which  he  came  into  tlie  world.  Only  by 
dying  could  he  redeem  from  death,  and  from 
him  that  had  the  power  of  death.  But  that 
has  been  accomplished.  All  that  could  be 
achieved  by  an  experience  so  dark,  has  been 
already  effected ;  and  whatever  was  mortal  per- 
taining to  him,  belongs  to  the  things  that  are 
past ;  he  "  was  dead." 

Now  he  lives.  This  Jesus  hath  God  raised 
up;  and,  by  so  doing,  has  with  his  own  right 
hand  set  upon  him  the  decisive  seal  of  Media- 
torship.  He  raised  him  from  the  dead,  and  gave 
him  glory.  He  is  now  alive,  all  the  more  glo- 
rious and  efficacious  for  having  died.  By  dying 
and  rising,  he  has  become  the  certain  pledge  of 
life.  He  is  at  once  its  giver,  preserver,  and 
arbiter.  He  was  raised  "  to  be  a  Prince  and  a 
Saviour,  for  to  give  repentance  to  Israel,  and 
forgiveness  of  sins."  "  Because  I  live,  ye  shall 
live  also."  His  was  a  meritorious  dying ;  it  Avas 
with  a  view  to  life  for  others ;  it  was  to  the  end 
that  he  might  become  the  fountain  and  Lord  of 
life  for  all  given  him  by  the  Father,  who  there- 
fore have    eternal  hfe,  and  shall   never  perish. 


100  MORNING    HOURS    IN   PATMOS. 

He  is  the  living  and  tlie  life-giving  One.  "Be- 
hold I  am  alive  for  evermore.  Amen."  His  was 
not  such  a  resurrection  as  that  of  Lazarus,  or 
the  young  man  of  Nain,  or  the  ruler's  daughter, 
who  soon  died  a  second  time.  He  died  once  for 
all;  being  raised  from  the  dead,  he  dieth  no 
more ;  death  hath  no  more  dominion  over  him. 

CHItlSll  THE   AltBITER    OF  HADES. 

"And  hath  the  keys  of  hell  and  of  death." 

By  general  consent,  our  English  version,  ad- 
mirable as  it  is,  fails  in  some  instances  to  convey 
the  meaning  of  the  original,  where  words  occur 
which,  in  part,  are  translated  hell.  For  in- 
stance, a  certain  term,  Sheol,  occurring  sixty-four 
times  in  the  Hebrew  Scriptures,  is,  by  the  trans- 
lators of  our  English  Bible,  rendered  grave  in 
thirty  instances;  and  it  is  jDlain  that,  in  some 
at  least  of  the  remaining  instances,  it  ought 
to  have  been  translated,  the  region  of  the  dead ; 
because  the  place  of  torment  distinctively  is 
not  intended,  but  the  under-world  in  general, 
the    world    of    spirits,   without     discriminating, 


THE    LORD    OF    LIFE.  101 

much  less  denying,  a  distinction  of  abode  there 
between  the  righteous  and  the  wicked.  While 
the  Old  Testament  reveals  a  separation  after 
death  between  the  good  and  the  evil,  and  appro- 
priate retributions  to  each  of  the  two  great 
classes,  that  particular  word,  Sheol,  often  denotes 
the  region  of  the  dead,  in  distinction  from  the 
living,  without  distinguishing  the  condition  of 
the  righteous  and  wicked  when  they  leave  this 
world.  Since,  then,  the  word  hell  now  signifies 
only  the  place  of  future  punishment,  it  is  too 
restricted  a  term  to  represent,  even  in  a  majority 
of  cases,  that  original  word  which  covers  the 
whole  territory  of  the  unseen  world. 

Opening  the  New  Testament,  we  find  a  Greek 
word,  Gehenna^  denoting  the  place  of  future 
punishment,  and  properly  translated  \  as  in  the 
passage,  "  Fear  him  which,  after  he  hath  killed, 
hath  power  to  cast  into  hell."  But  w^e  find 
another  word.  Hades,  answering  to  Sheol,  and 
which  in  one  instance  is  rendered  grave :  "  0 
grave !  where  is  thy  victory  ? "  but  more  gener- 
ally it  signifies,  as  here,  the  world  of  the  de- 
parted, and  does  not,  of  itself,  direct  thouglit  to 


102  MORNING  HOURS    IN  PATMOS. 

the  two  great  departments  of  that  world.  Thus, 
Christ  entered  the  region  of  the  dead ;  and  we 
read  in  the  Acts,  "  Thou  wilt  not  leave  my  soul 
in  Hades;"  i  e.^  in  the  domain  of  death,  in  the 
world  of  disembodied  spirits.  The  rendering, 
as  we  have  it,  hell,  is  there  peculiarly  unhappy, 
for  that  denotes  but  one  section  of  the  invisible 
regions,  where  only  the  incorrigibly  wicked  are 
sent,  and  where  no  one  can  imagine  our  Saviour 
to  have  gone  when  he  gave  up  the  ghost. 

That  clause  of  the  text  now  considered,  should 
read,  "And  hath  the  keys  of  Hades  and  of 
death,"  —  the  keys  of  the  unseen  world,  the 
world  into  which  all  enter  as  they  leave  this,  — 
the  universe  of  intelligent  creatures  being  di- 
vided between  those  here  and  those  not  here. 
Of  that  vast  territory'-,  and  of  death  the  entrance 
to  it,  Christ  holds  the  keys  —  has  complete 
authority  over  them.  Having  been  himself  into 
Hades,  he  came  forth,  and  his  return  was  his 
coronation  over  those  realms.  He  "died  and 
rose,  and  revived,  that  he  might  be  Lord  both 
of  the  dead  and  living."  That  world  whereof 
we    now  speak   has   a   heavenly   Hades,  and    a 


THE    LORD    OF    LIFE.  103 

Hades  of  outer  darkness ;  a  paradise  of  perfect 
blessedness,  Abraham's  bosom,  and  a  lake  that 
burneth*  with  fire  and  brimstone ;  a  right  hand 
and  a  left  hand,  —  one  leading  to  our  Father's 
house,  in  which  are  many  mansions,  the  other 
into  outer  darkness.  He  who  is  the  Alpha  and 
Omega,  has  supreme  control  over  that  vast  do- 
main. All  spirits,  on  passing  into  that  empire, 
are  by  him  directed  where  to  go,  and  by  him 
are  kept  in  their  respective  places  of  abode. 
"For  there  is  a  great  gulf  fixed"  between  the 
two,  and  those  eyes  which  are  as  a  flame  of  fire, 
guard  sleeplessly  on  either  hand.  Never  did,  and 
never  will,  a  soul  pass  from  one  to  the  other. 

What  a  population  is  there  in  that  empire  of 
departed  spirits !  How  suggestive  are  the  cem- 
eteries of  earth !  In  the  catacombs  of  Paris, 
closed  long  since,  may  be  seen  two  millions  of 
skulls,  placed  in  order.  In  England  alone,  ter- 
ritorially so  small,  there  are  ten  thousand  church- 
yards, and  each  has  a  silent  congregation  far 
more  numerous  than  can  ever  be  gathered  above 
ground.  Our  country  receives  an  immigration 
of  more  than  three  hundred  and  sixty  thousand 


104  MORNING   HOURS   IN  PATMOS. 

annually ;  but  tlie  world  of  spirits  receives 
that  immigration  every  five  days.  There  have 
lived  in  former  generations  perhaps  fifty  times 
as  many  as  are  now  living,  or  fifty  thousand 
millions.  And  to  the  present  abode,  to  the 
everlasting  condition  of  all  those  hosts,  Jesus 
Christ  holds  the  key. 

It  is  the  Kesurrection^  however,  that  will 
furnish  the  most  stupendous  proof  of  Christ's 
authority  over  the  regions  of  the  departed. 
"  If  the  dead  rise  not,  then  is  Christ  not  risen ; 
but  now  is  Christ  risen ; "  he  is  alive  for  ever- 
more ;  at  the  appointed  time  will  he  descend 
from  heaven  with  a  shout,  and  all  that  are  in 
their  graves  shall  hear  his  voice,  and  shall  come 
forth. 

What  a  morning,  what  a  spectacle,  when, 
through  the  reversed  gates  of  Hades,  all  the 
countless  millions  of  the  departed  shall  reappear 
once  more !  0  Thou  who  art  the  first  and  the 
last;  who  art  He  that  liveth,  and  wast  dead, 
and  art  alive  for  evermore,  and  hast  the  keys 
of  hell  and  of  death  —  grant  a  blessed  resurrec- 
tion and  everlasting  life  with  thee ! 


THE    LORD    OF    LIFE.  105 

CHRIST    THE   ARBITER    OF  DEATH. 

He  holds  also  the  key  of  death.  It  rests  with 
him  to  say  when  we  shall  pass  the  gate.  Our 
times  are  in  his  hand.  It  rests  with  him  to  deter- 
mine how  and  where  we  shall  go.  The  earth- 
quake supplies  one  door  to  the  unseen  world. 
At  Lisbon,  a  century  ago,  in  the  course  of  six 
minutes,  sixty  thousand  persons  perished.  The 
fortress  and  the  battle-field  are  gates  of  death. 
At  Arbela,  three  hundred  thousand  men  marched 
through  at  one  time.  A  few  months  since,  Lom- 
bardy  became  one  grand  entrance  to  Hades. 
Another  door  is  through  the  sea.  ^^Hast  thou 
entered  into  the  springs  of  the  sea,  or  hast  thou 
walked  in  the  search  of  the  depth  ?  Have  the 
gates  of  death  been  opened  unto  thee,  or  hast 
thou  seen  the  doors  of  the  shadow  of  death  ? " 
No,  thou  hast  not ;  yet  tens  of  thousands  have 
passed  through  that  lower  gate,  into  the  invisible 
world. 

The  more  usual  entrance,  however,  is  found 
within  each  man's  own  dwelling.  It  is  through 
disease  that,  slowly  or  rapidly,  Christ  opens  the 


106  MORNING    HOURS    IN    PATMOS- 

door  for  millions  every  year  ;  and  when  lie  points 
the  way,  who  may  hesitate,  who  can  withstand  ? 
The  wounded  Marshal  Lannes,  the  hero  of  many 
a  battle,  when  told  he  must  die,  and  that  nothing 
could  save  him,  "  Not  save  a  marshal ! "  he  ex- 
claimed, "  and  a  Duke  of  Montebello  ? "  No, 
marshal ;  an  order  has  come  from  one  higher 
than  the  emperor,  from  the  Prince  of  the  kings 
of  the  earth.  "  There  is  no  man  that  hath  power 
over  the  spirit  to  retain  the  spirit ;  neither  hath 
he  power  in  the  day  of  death ;  and  there  is  no 
discharge  in  that  war."  In  the  grave,  in  the 
world  of  disembodied  spirits,  the  rich  and  the 
poor  meet  together :  the  Lord  is  the  Maker  of 
them  all. 

Equally  vain  is  any  attempt  to  return  from 
those  regions.  Christ  holds  the  key  with  an  om- 
nipotent hand :  "  He  shutteth,  and  no  man  open- 
eth ;  he  openeth,  and  no  man  shutteth."  True, 
he  himself  has  but  to  say,  "  Lazarus,  come  forth  !" 
and  the  brother  of  Mary  and  Martha  reappears 
through  the  opened  gate ;  he  has  merely  to 
step  to  the  door,  and  call,  "  Talitha  cumi!"  and 
the   departed   soul  of  the  maiden  obeys.     But 


THE    LORD    OFLIFE.  107 

when  an  apostle  would  do  the  same,  it  is  only 
in  the  name,  and  by  the  power,  and  at  the  in- 
stance of  Him  who  holds  the  key  of  Hades  and 
of  death. 

This  brings  a  suggestion  of  fearful  import  to 
the  perseveringly  impenitent.  He  whose  eyes 
are  as  a  flame  of  fire  never  relents  toward  .them, 
when  once  he  has  turned  the  key  upon  them. 
In  the  closing  of  this  "testimony  of  Jesus 
Christ,"  it  is  recorded :  "  He  that  is  unjust,  let 
him  be  unjust  still  -,  and  he  which  is  filthy,  let 
him  be  filthy  still."  You  may  have  stood,  as 
did  the  writer  once,  in  the  city  of  Venice,  gazing 
at  the  covered  bridge  over  the  Hiva  del  Schiavoni, 
which  connects  an  upper  story  of  the  old  Ducal 
Palace  with  the  massive,  grated,  gloomy  prison 
opposite.  Eemembering  that  no  one,  behind 
whom  the  door  closed,  and  who  crossed  by  the 
passage,  called  "  The  Bridge  of  Sighs,"  ever  came 
back,  did  you  not  think  of  the  throng  moving  on 
toward  the  other  side  of  the  great  gulf,  to  the 
dungeon  where  are  only  sighs  and  endless  des- 
pair ?  "These  shall  go  away  into  everlasting 
punishment." 


108  MORNING    HOURS    IN   PATMOS. 

DEPARTURES    CONTRASTED. 

Do  not  departing  believers  find  a  friend  at  the 
gate  of  death  ?  He  who  is  the  Living  One  is  in- 
deed there,  and  smiles  upon  them.  He  has  him- 
self been  through  that  entrance  to  the  realm  of 
spirits,  and  come  back  again.  His  smile  so  lights 
up  the  passage,  that  it  seems  only  an  attractive 
avenue  to  glory.  Often  does  he  open  the  door  a 
little  while  beforehand,  and  let  the  approaching 
saint  look  in  upon  the  region  whither  he  is  going. 
.So  Stephen  saw  the  heavens  opened,  and  the  Son 
of  man  standing  on  the  right  hand  of  God.  So, 
on  his  death-bed,  the  godly  man  John  Janeway 
testified  :  "  Methinks  I  stand,  as  it  were,  with  one 
foot  in  heaven,  and  the  other  upon  the  earth. 
Methinks  I  hear  the  melody  of  heaven,  and  by 
faith  I  see  the  angels  waiting  to  carry  my  soul  to 
the  bosom  of  Jesus,  and  I  shall  be  forever  with 
the  Lord  in  glory!"  So,  too,  Edward  Payson : 
"  The  celestial  city  is  now  full  in  my  view.  Its 
glories  beam  upon  me  ;  its  sounds  strike  upon 
my  ears,  and  its  spirit  is  breathed  into  my  heart." 


tx  Skil^, 


TEE  EPISTLE    TO   EPHESUS. 

Unto  the  angel  of  the  church  of  Ephesus  write  : 
These  things  saith  he  that  holdeth  the  seven  stars  in 
his  right  hand,  who  walketh  in  the  midst  of  the 
seven  golden  candlesticks;  I  know  thy  works,  and 
thy  labor,  and  thy  patience,  and  how  thou  canst  not 
bear  them  which  are  evil ;  and  thou  hast  tried  them 
which  say  they  are  apostles,  and  are  not,  and  hast 
found  them  liars ;  and  hast  borne,  and  hast  patience, 
and  for  my  name's  sake  hast  labored,  and  hast  not 
fainted.  Nevertheless,  I  have  somewhat  against  thee, 
because  thou  hast  left  thy  first  love.  Remember, 
therefore,  from  whence  thou  art  fallen,  and  repent, 
and  do  the  first  works ;  or  else  I  will  come  unto  thee 
quickly,  and  will  remove  thy  candlestick  out  of  his 
place,  except  thou  repent.  But  this  thou  hast,  that 
thou  hatest  the  deeds  of  the  Nicolaitanes,  which  I 
also  hate.  He  that  hath  an  ear,  let  him  hear  what 
the  Spirit   saith  unto    the    churches.      To  him   that 

10 


110  MORNING    HOURS    IN    PATMOS. 

overcometh,  will  I  give  to  eat  of  the  tree  of  life, 
which  is  in  the  midst  of  the  paradise  of  God.  Kev. 
2 : 1—7. 

EPEESUS. 

For  a  moment,  we  retrace  tlie  course  of 
eighteen  centuries.  We  visit  the  south-western 
coast  of  the  Roman  province  of  Proconsular 
Asia.  We  sail  up  one  of  the  numerous  bays  of 
that  region,  and  enter  a  harbor,  into  which  a 
small  river,  called  the  Cayister,  pours  its  waters. 
It  is  the  harbor  of  Ephesus ;  and  to  the  right, 
partly  on  alluvial  land  along  the  river,  and  partly 
on  neighboring  hills,  lies  that  wealthy  and  popu- 
lous city.  It  is  the  largest  in  Asia  this  side  Mount 
Taurus  —  is  the  seat  of  a  flourishing  trade,  and 
the  convenient  resort  of  merchants  and  others, 
from  the  three  great  continental  portions  of  the 
Eoman  Empire. 

The  first  object  which  attracts  our  eye  is  one 
of  the  Seven  Wonders  of  the  world,  the  temple 
of  Diana,  larger  by  far  than  the  Parthenon  at 
Athens,  being  four  hundred  and  twenty-five  feet 
in  length,  and  two  hundred  and  twenty  in  width  ; 
having  one  hundred  and  twenty-seven  columns, 


THE    EPISTLE    TO    EPHESUS.  HI 

sixty  feet  in  height,  each  the  contribution  of  a 
different  king.  More  than  two  centuries  were 
consumed  in  its  erection.  This  temple  is  the 
great  treasure-house  of  the  goddess,  where  im- 
mense wealth  is  deposited  in  the  statues,  paint- 
ings, and  various  munificent  gifts  of  kings  and 
princes.  Other  immense  and  costly  edifices  at- 
tract our  gaze.  But  we  find  in  the  midst  of  all 
this  magnificence,  a  gloomy  superstition  and  an 
enthusiastic  idolatry.  It  is  the  very  focus  of 
sorcery,  a  great  university  of  magic,  the  metrop- 
olis of  heathen  spiritualism. 

There  is,  however,  to  be  an  onset  upon  this 
stronghold  of  Satan.  An  earnest,  fearless  man, 
on  his  way  from  Corinth  to  Jerusalem,  accom- 
panied by  Aquila  and  Priscilla,  visits  the  place, 
remains  a  few  days,  and  then  leaves.  During  his 
absence,  there  comes  one  Apollos  from  Alexan- 
dria, ''  an  eloquent  man,  and  mighty  in  the  Scrip- 
tures." But  Paul  returns  at  length,  and  jDlants 
himself  for  a  vigorous  and  patient  effort  to  intro- 
duce the  new  religion.  He  baptizes  a  number 
of  disciples,  who  had  previously  been  instructed, 
though  very  imperfectly.     He  enters  the  syna- 


112  MORNING   HOURS    IN   PATMOS. 

gogue,  and  there,  for  three  months,  speaks  boldly 
concerning  the  kingdom  of  God ;  till,  owing  to 
the  perverseness  of  certain  Jews,  he  is  con- 
strained to  withdraw,  and  to  carry  on  labors  at 
a  different  point,  where  Tyrannus  opens  his 
school  for  the  purpose.  Soon  the  "  name  of  the 
Lord  Jesus  is  magnified,"  so  mightily  grows  the 
word  of  God,  and  prevails.  Text-books  of  Magic 
to  an  enormous  value  are  burnt,  and  the  whole 
craft  who  manufacture  shrines  for  Diana  are 
filled  with  consternation.  A  tumult  ensues,  and 
Paul  once  more  leaves  the  place.  But  Chris- 
tianity has  taken  root,  and  a  church  has  been 
gathered. 

Some  months  later,  in  sailing  along  the  coast, 
Paul  touches  at  Miletus,  between  thirty  and  forty 
miles  distant,  and,  not  having  time  to  go  up  to 
the  city,  he  sends  for  the  elders  of  the  church  at 
Ephesus  to  come  down  and  meet  him.  The  part- 
ing scene,  and  his  address  reviewing  his  three 
years'  labor  among  them,  are  peculiarly  touching. 
One  prediction  of  his  is  particularly  memorable  : 
"  For  I  know  this,  that  after  my  departing  shall 
grievous  wolves  enter  in  among  yon,  not  sparing 


THE    EPISTLE    TO    EPHESUS.  113 

the  flock.  Also,  of  your  own  selves  shall  men 
arise,  speaking  perverse  things,  to  draw  away  dis- 
ciples after  them."  That  sad  announcement  was 
fulfilled  ;  for,  writing  afterwards  to  Timothy, 
whom  he  had  left  at  Ephesus  as  spiritual  teacher 
and  guide,  the  apostle  speaks  of  some  who  "  con- 
cerning faith  have  made  shipwreck." 

It  appears  that,  as  an  apostle,  Paul  resided 
longer  at  Ephesus  than  at  any  other  place  ;  and 
there  is  evidence  that,  under  the  nurture  of  im- 
mediate apostolic  labors,  and  subsequent  prayers 
and  exhortations,  as  indicated  by  his  epistle  to 
the  saints  at  Ephesus,  the  church  in  that  favorite 
field  became  a  flourishing  one.  Little,  however, 
is  known  with  certainty  in  regard  to  it,  till  after 
the  lapse  of  thirty  years,  when  we  hear  Jesus 
Christ  himself  dictating  this  epistle.  How  easily 
understood  it  is !  How  direct,  how  kind,  yet  how 
pointed  !  Christ's  recorded  sermons,  epistles,  and 
prayers,  are  all  short,  earnest,  weighty. 

If  the  question  is  raised  by  any  one.  Was  the 

threatening   fulfilled   which   is   here   conveyed  ? 

the  answer  is,  Most  certainly.     The  precise  date 

at   which    the    candlestick    was    removed   from 
10* 


114  MORNING  HOURS    IN   PATMOS. 

Epliesus,  we  know  not;  but  it  was  long  since, 
and  now  there  is  only  darkness  in  that  once 
favored  spot.  The  famous  temple,  and  the 
church  edifices,  are  alike  demolished.  As  is  well 
known,  and  as  it  came  under  the  writer's  eye,  all 
is  ruin  and  solitude.  The  place  is  a  fearful  mon- 
ument of  the  desolation  that  follows  the  leaving 
of  first  love. 

PRECEDENCE    OF    THIS   EPISTLE. 

"  Unto  the  angel  of  the  church  of  Ephesus  write." 

"  Unto  the  angel,"  —  the  messenger  ;  evi- 
dently not  one  of  the  heavenly  host  -,  but  one 
sent  and  appointed  by  the  Lord  Jesus,  to  be  the 
head,  guide,  and  representative  of  the  church, 
with  messages  from  Him  who  is  in  the  midst  of 
the  seven  golden  candlesticks,  and  whose  voice 
is  as  the  sound  of  many  waters. 

This  is  a  letter  "to  be  communicated;"  not 
designed  exclusively,  or  even  specially,  for  the 
presiding  angel  or  pastor,  but  for  the  whole 
body,  the  one  body  of  believers  in  that  city. 
The  salutation  of  the  first  chapter  is  "To  the 


THE    EPISTLE    TO    EPHESUS.  115 

seven  churches  which  are  in  Asia ; "  but  the 
angel  of  each  church  respectively  is  addressed, 
because,  as  Moderator,  or  President,  he  is  the 
proper  organ  of  communication. 

Of  the  seven  cities  to  which  these  epistles  are 
sent,  Ephesus  stands  first,  because  it  is  the 
largest,  and  is  the  metropolitan  city,  —  the  one 
nearest  Patmos,  and  the  one  which  the  traveller 
and  the  seer,  in  the  local  progress  of  thought 
through  the  circle  of  the  seven,  would  visit  first. 
The  probable  circumstance,  that  in  the  order 
of  time  this  too  was  the  first  church  gathered 
in  the  province,  and  that  —  if  the  tradition  has 
any  value  —  John  resided  longest  here,  may 
have  been  among  the  reasons  w^hy  He  who 
is  the  Alpha  and  Omega  should  direct  his  first 
communication  to  the  angel  of  the  church  of 
Ephesus. 

Each  of  these  several  letters  from  the  faithful 
and  true  Witness  commences,  as  in  the  present 
instance,  with  one  or  more  image  from  the 
drapery  of  that  impressive  vision  portrayed  in 
the  previous  chapter.  Thus  does  the  speaker 
establish  his  identity,  and  thus  he  keeps  vividly 


116  MORlSriXG  HOURS   IN  PATMOS. 

before  the  mind  tlie  elements  of  awe  whereby  he 
reveals  himself 

CHRIST    WITH  HIS   MINISTERS  AND    CHURCHES. 

"  These  things  saith  he  that  holdeth  the  seven  stars 
in  his  right  hand,  who  walketh  in  the  midst  of  the 
seven  golden  candlesticks." 

We  have  already  been  told  the  mystery  of  the 
stars  in  his  right  hand  :  "  The  seven  stars  are  the 
angels  of  the  seven  churches."  Christ's  accred- 
ited ambassadors  are  stars,  some  of  them  of  the 
first  magnitude,  some  of  the  tenth  ^  all,  however, 
alike  shining  with  borrowed  light,  —  light  from 
Him  who  is  the  glorious  central  sun. 

He  holdeth  the  seven  stars  in  his  right  hand ; 
and  in  good  hands  they  are,  —  otherwise,  alas 
for  them  !  What  would  become  of  every  sinking 
Peter,  but  for  Christ's  outstretched  hand  ?  Strong 
is  his  right  arm.  How. many,  century  after  cen- 
tury, has  it  upheld,  who  have  diffused  the  light  of 
pure  doctrine  and  a  blameless  life !  How  many 
has  it  thus  upheld  for  scores  of  years,  and  some 
for  half  a  century  or  more  !    Thus  was  it  with  the 


THE    EPISTLE    TO    EPHESUS.  117 

apostle  to  the  Indians,  so-called,  —  John  Eliot, — 
for  nearly  sixty  years,  and  his  immediate  successor 
more  than  sixty,  —  two  men  ministering  to  the 
church  for  one  hundred  and  twenty  consecutive 
years !  "  And  they  that  be  wise  shall  shine  as 
the  brightness  of  the  firmament ;  and  they  that 
turn  many  to  righteousness,  as  the  stars  for  ever 
and  ever." 

"Who  walketh  in  the  midst  of  the  seven 
golden  candlesticks ; "  and  these  are  the  seven 
churches.  His  presence  among  them  is  no  less  a 
reality  now  than  then.  Would  that  it  were  an 
habitual  thought  that  the  First-begotten  of  the 
dead,  the  Prince  of  the  kings  of  the  earth,  is  now 
in  the  midst  of  our  churches! — that  his  eye  scans 
the  catalogue,  creed,  and  conduct  of  each ;  that  he 
is  in  the  midst  of  our  churches,  to  mark  the  style 
of  living,  to  mark  the  subscription-list,  to  mark 
what  difference  in  business  transactions  and  social 
life  there  is  between  those  called  and  those  not 
called  his  people  ;  that  he  is  present  in  families,  to 
observe  whether  children  are  trained  for  him,  or 
for  Mammon  and  the  great  Diana  of  fashion ; 
that  he  is  present  at  church-meetings,  to  observe 


118  MORNING   HOURS    IN   PATMOS. 

who  are  there,  and  who  not  there ;  present 
always  and  everywhere,  and,  though  unseen, 
seeing  all ! 

EXCELLENCES   RECOGNIZED. 

"  I  know  thy  works,  and  thy  labor,  and  thy  patience, 
and  how  thou  canst  not  bear  them  which  are  evil ;  and 
thou  hast  tried  them  which  say  they  are  apostles,  and 
are  not,  and  hast  found  them  liars  ;  and  hast  borne, 
and  hast  patience,  and  for  my  name's  sake  hast  labored, 
and  hast  not  fainted." 

He  speaks  in  commendation,  so  far  as  may  be 
done.  Divine  impartiality !  divine  condescen- 
sion !  —  to  speak  of  excellences  in  any  of  his 
servants  ;  to  commend  them  for  that  which  they 
have  received  from  him  !  Behold  the  goodness 
and  severity  of  God,  —  goodness  first,  goodness 
predominant. 

"I  know  thy  works."  There  was  not  then 
there  is  not  now,  one  labor  of  love ;  not  one  step 
taken  for  the  love  of  Jesus,  and  the  love  of  souls; 
not  one  cup  of  cold  water  given  in  the  name 
of  a  disciple ;  not  one  instance  of  meek  endur- 


THE    EPISTLE    TO    EPHESUS.  119 

ance  under  misrepresentation  or  persecution,  of 
which  there  is  not  a  mindful  spectator.  Mistress 
of  a  family !  your  quiet,  persevering  efforts  for 
the  spiritual  good  of  an  ignorant,  bigoted  domes- 
tic, are  not  unheeded ;  and  when,  without  saying 
aught  to  any  one,  3^ou  go  down  the  street,  with 
some  little  delicacy  in  your  hand,  and  with  kind 
thoughts  in  your  heart  and  kind  words  on  your 
lips,  to  the  room  of  sickness ;  or  turn  the  corner 
to  where  there  was  a  funeral  not  long  ago,  and 
then  pass  with  a  loving  welcome  to  some  family 
lately  come  to  your  neighborhood, — -"for  ye  know 
the  heart  of  a  stranger,"  —  your  movements  are 
observed  by  Him  in  whose  steps  you  follow.  And 
so  are  yours  who,  for  his  name's  sake,  engage  in 
the  thankless  work  of  securing  subscriptions  to 
Foreign  Missions,  Home  Missions,  or  any  kindred 
cause.  There  is  One  who  seeth  in  secret,  and  will 
openly  reward  you  who  kneel  with  the  Holy 
Scriptures  before  you,  as  you  prepare  for  the 
Sabbath-school,  or  Bible-class,  and  who  study, 
pray,  and  sjDcak  with  an  earnest  desire  for  the 
everlasting  welfare  of  precious  souls.  When,  in 
these  Christian  endeavors,  you  meet  with  rebufls. 


120  MORNING  HOURS   IN  PATMOS. 

with  impertinence  or  abuse,  it  is  noted  by  Him 
who  endured  such  contradiction  of  sinners  against 
himself. 

"Thou  canst  not  bear  them  which  are  evil." 
The  patience  just  commended,  is  qu.ite  consistent 
with  the  impatience  also  here  approved.  One 
may  endure  hardships  and  trials  without  mur- 
muring, yea,  with  entire  Christian  meekness,  and 
at  the  same  time  feel  the  strongest  dislike  to 
wrong  doing.  There  is  as  truly  a  sanctified  im- 
/  patience  as  patience  ;  and  it  is  not  a  different 
)  face,  nor  a  double  face,  but  the  same  counte- 
nance looking  in  opposite  directions.  A  holy 
complacency  in  good  men,  and  a  holy  aversion  to 
the  bad,  are  mutual  tests  of  each  other.  He  who 
came  to  save  sinners,  the  chiefest  of  them,  who 
was  called  a  friend  of  publicans  and  sinners,  was 
at  the  same  time  "  undefiled,  and  separate  from 
sinners."  He  who  says,  "  Come  unto  me,"  is 
preparing  to  say,  "  Depart  ye  cursed." 

"And  hast  tried  them  which  say  they  are 
apostles,  and  are  not,  and  hast  found  them  liars." 
John  himself,  a  few  years  before,  writing  his  first 
epistle  at  Ephesus,  gives   the   injunction :    "  Be- 


THE    EPISTLE   TO    EPHESUS.  121 

loved,  believe  not  every  spirit,  but  try  the  spirits 
whether  they  are  of  God  ;  because  many  false 
prophets  are  gone  out  into  the  world.  Hereby 
know  ye  the  Spirit  of  God  :  Every  spirit  that 
confesseth  that  Jesus  Christ  is  come  in  the  flesh, 
is  of  God.  And  every  spirit  that  confesseth  not 
that  Jesus  Christ  is  come  in  the  flesh,  is  not  of 
God  :  and  this  is  that  spirit  of  antichrist,  whereof 
ye  have  heard  that  it  should  come ;  and  even 
now  already  is  it  in  the  world."  Every  individual 
and  every  church  is  bound  to  exercise  discrimina- 
tion in  regard  to  religious  teachers.  It  is  not 
enough  that  we  reject  the  false  prophets  of  Mor- 
monism  and  Spiritualism ;  there  are  more  dan- 
gerous forms  of  error,  and  those  having  abler 
advocates.  The  lax,  the  lukewarm,  may  cry  out 
against  intolerance  and  heresy-hunting,  but  the 
Head  of  the  church  has  an  encomium  for  such  as 
try  them  which  say  they  are  apostles,  and  are 
not,  and  prove  them  liars.  There  can  be  no 
enlightened,  consistent  piety,  without  a  zeal  for 
sound  doctrine  and  a  pure  ministry. 

"  And  hast  borne,  and  had  patience,  and  for  my 
name's  sake  hast  labored,  and  hast  not  fainted." 

11 


122  MORNING   HOURS    IN  PATMOS. 

This  shows  that  it  was  from  no  captious  and 
unreasonably  complaining  spirit  that  the  Ephe- 
sian  church  could  not  endure  the  pseudo-apos- 
tles, —  those  teaching  unsound  doctrines,  and 
sanctioning  unscriptural  practices,  —  but  that 
theirs  was  as  w^ell  a  spirit  of  forbearance  and 
persevering  endurance,  as  of  uncompromising 
aversion  to  heresy  and  immorality. 

THE    GREAT  DELINQUENCY. 

''  Nevertheless,  I  have  somewhat  against  thee,  be- 
cause thou  hast  left  tlij  first  love." 

Can  a  church  with  such  excellences  have  any 
grave  defects  requiring  correction  ?  "  Never- 
theless, I  have  somewhat  against  thee.'*  And 
what  is  it  ?  Is  there  schism  at  Ephesus  ?  Are 
they  split  into  parties?  Have  they  been  run- 
ning wild  in  new  measures,  or  in  theoretical 
ultraisms?  Have  corruptions  touching  the  or- 
dinances crept  in  ?  What  is  it  ?  —  "  Thou  hast 
left  thy  first  love."  Not  less  worthy  of  warning 
than   departure   from   fundamental  doctrine,  or 


THE    EPISTLE    TO    EPHESUS.  123 

from  scriptural  morality,  is  the  leaving  of  first 
love.  The  charge  here  is  not  that  of  falling 
from  grace,  nor  that  love  is  extinguished,  but 
diminished.  No  zeal,  no  suffering  can  atone 
for  the  want  of  first  love.  Such  an  attachment 
was  shown  by  the  one  who  washed  our  Saviour's 
feet  with  her  tears,  and  wiped  them  with  the 
hair  of  her  head,  —  loving  much,  because  she 
was  much  forgiven.  Such  was  the  attachment 
generally  shown  by  the  first  disciples  under 
apostolic  preaching,  who  "  gladly  received "  the 
word,  and  who  therefore  abounded  in  works  of 
faith  and  labors  of  love.  The  Ephesian  Chris- 
tians did  at  one  time  realize  in  some  measure 
the  fulfilment  of  the  prayer  of  Paul  in  their  be- 
half: "  That  Christ  may  dwell  in  3^our  hearts  by 
faith;  that  ye,  being  rooted  and  grounded  in 
love,  may  be  able  to  comprehend  with  all  saints 
what  is  the  breadth,  and  length,  and  depth,  and 
height ;  and  to  know  the  love  of  Christ,  which 
passeth  knowledge,  that  ye  might  be  filled  with 
all  the  fulness  of  God."  But  they  had  declined  ; 
and  the  Lord  now  says  to  them,  as  to  Israel  of 
old,   "I   remember   thee,   the    kindness   of    thy 


124  MORNING   HOURS    IN   PATMOS. 

youth,  the  love  of  thine  espousals."  Such 
waning  of  attachment  to  God^  is  a  grievous 
offence. 

Do  you  observe  tokens  of  abated  regard  on 
the  part  of  a  friend  ?  Do  you  notice  proofs  of 
growing  coldness  in  the  one  between  whom  and 
yourself  there  are  sacred  vows,  —  vows  sealed,  it 
may  be,  in  the  solemnities  of  marriage  ?  What 
agitating  fears  arise!  What  poignancy  of  grief! 
Oh,  what  a  weight  presses  upon  your  heart !  And 
is  the  Lord  Jesus  less  alive  to  the  fidelity  of  his 
espoused  church?  In  deep,  sad  earnestness  he 
chides :  "  I  have  somewhat  against  thee,  because 
thou  hast  left  thy  first  love." 

Shall  there  not  be  a  prayerful,  searching  in- 
quiry relative  to  this  leaving  of  first  love  ?  Be 
sure  of  this,  that  if  you  see  less  of  Christ  now 
than  formerly  in  his  word  and  ordinances;  if 
less  disposed  to  daily  cross-bearing  ;  if,  with  equal 
or  increased  means,  you  are  less  ready  to  give 
to  his  cause ;  if  there  is  a  disposition  to  quiet 
yourself  by  thinking  that  you  and  some  others 
were  once  too  strict,  and  that  too  much  has  been 
made  of  differences  in  doctrine  and  practice  be- 


THE    EPISTLE    TO    EPHESUS.  125 

tween  evangelical  and  unevangelical  denomina- 
tions; if  you  find  it  easier  to  let  business,  or 
a  secular  lecture,  take  you  from  a  church  prayer- 
meeting;  if,  on  the  score  of  position  among 
Christ's  people,  you  grow  more  select  in  your 
social  habits  and  feelings,  —  then,  surely,  have 
you  left  your  first  love. 


A    WARNING   AND   A    COMMENDATION. 

"  Remember,  therefore,  from  whence  thou  art  fallen, 
and  repent,  and  do  the  first  works ;  or  else  I  will  come 
unto  thee  quickly,  and  will  remove  thy  candlestick  out 
of  his  place,  except  thou  repent.  But  this  thou  hast, 
that  thou  hatest  the  deeds  of  the  Nicolaitanes,  which  I 
also  hate." 

Kemember, —  call  to  mind  an  earlier  period 
of  comparative  spiritual  activity,  comfort,  and 
growth.  Take  time  for  it.  Be  as  careful  as  3'ou 
would  if  scrutinizing  accounts  in  the  fear  of 
bankruptcy.  Eemember  from  whence  thou  art 
fallen,  and  repent.  Humble  yourself  before  an 
offended   God,  and   do  the  first  works.     Eeturn 

11* 


126  MORNING    HOURS    IN   PATMOS. 

to  a  prompt,  prayerful,  scrupulous  discharge  of 
all  known  duties,  "or  else  I  will  come  unto 
you  quickly,  and  will  remove  thy  candlestick 
out  of  his  place."  Does  the  threatening  seem 
severe  for  the  offence?  We  will  allow  the 
faithful  and  true  Witness  to  estimate  the  de- 
merit of  sins,  and  graduate  the  penalty.  In 
his  esteem,  it  is  no  slight  thing  to  leave  one's 
first  love.  Notwithstanding,  however,  their 
abated  attachment  to  Christ,  mark  the  ten- 
derness of  Christ's  love  to  them :  "  But  this 
thou  hast."  How  much  more  anxious  to  com- 
mend than  to  reprove !  How  prompt  to  pour 
balm  into  the  wound  that  needed  to  be  opened ! 

Who  the  Nicolaitanes  were,  or  what  they 
held,  we  can  only  conjecture.  It  is  of  no 
special  importance  to  us  to  know.  Enough, 
that  their  deeds  were  hateful  to  the  Lord  Jesus, 
and  to  his  church  at  Ephesus.  We  may  have 
a  deep  scriptural  aversion  to  false  doctrines  and 
wicked  deeds,  consistently  with  the  love  of  be- 
nevolence to  the  persons  of  those  who  hold  and 
practice  them. 

The  great  fault  of  the  Ephesian  church  was 


THE    EPISTLE    TO    EPHESUS.  127 

that,  in  the  midst  of  their  commendable  zeal 
against  heresy  and  immorality,  their  love  to 
Christ  and  the  souls  of  men  had  waxed  cold. 
They  had  come  to  be  a  one-idea  church.  But 
a  solitary  virtue  cannot  long  stand  alone ;  it  is 
dangerous  having  only  one  excellence.  In  the 
zeal  of  modern  reform,  in  the  overheated  anxi- 
ety to  do  away  with  abuses,  it  is  no  unusual 
thing  for  professed  benevolence  to  exhibit  itself 
as  real  malignity.  To  hate  well,  it  is  necessary 
to  love  much. 


A   PROMISE    TO    THE    VICTOR. 

"  He  that  hath  an  ear,  let  him  hear  what  the  Spirit 
saith  unto  the  churches.  To  him  that  overcometh 
will  I  give  to  eat  of  the  tree  of  life,  which  is  in  the 
midst  of  the  paradise  of  God. 

Listen,  every  one  who  would  not  go  on  con- 
tentedly in  disloyal  remissness,  every  one  willing 
to  be  aroused  from  lethargy,  and  for  whom 
heaven  has  any  real  charms !  —  "To  him  that 
overcometh,  will  I  give  to  eat  of  the  tree  of  life 


128  MORNING   HOURS   IN    PATMOS. 

which  is  in  the  midst  of  the  paradise  of  God." 
Refreshing  promise !  animating  close  to  this  epis- 
tle !  The  inward  and  the  outward  life  of  the 
believer  is  a  warfare.  There  is  a  contest  to  be 
maintained  with  indwelling  sin,  with  an  opposing 
world,  and  with  its  malignant  prince.  We  are 
to  fight  the  good  fight  of  faith.  But  how  joyful 
this  assurance !  how  invigorating  the  foretaste  to 
a  saint,  as,  weary  and  way-worn,  he  approaches 
the  marriage  supper  of  the  Lamb !  '^  I  feed  on 
angel's  food,"  said  Rutherford.  Was  that  the 
first  time  he  had  tasted  it?  No;  it  had  been 
his  nourishment,  as  it  is  every  true  Christian's, 
from  the  hour  of  new  birth,  onward  through 
eternity.  The  children  of  God  do  from  day  to 
day  taste  the  hidden  manna  of  life  while  on 
earth,  and  are  strengthened  by  it.  Still  it  seems 
foreign  in  this  world.  Fragrant  it  is,  and  its 
flavor  is  celestial ;  still  it  is  not  like  partaking  of 
the  same  in  paradise.  And  in  that  blest  abode 
there  is  to  be  no  forbidden  fruit.  Through  ever- 
lasting ages  its  freshness  will  be  found  gladden- 
ing and  vivifying.  "  To  him  that  overcometh 
will  I  give  to  eat  of  the  tree  of  life  that  is  in 


THE    EPISTLE    TO    EPHESUS.  129 

the  midst  of  the  paradise  of  God."  And  never 
again  will  the  petition  be  heard,  "  Give  us  this 
day  our  daily  bread;"  for  "they  shall  hunger 
no  more,  neither  thirst  any  more." 


TEE  EPISTLE    TO    SIITRNA. 

And  unto  the  angel  of  the  church  in  Smyrna  write  : 
These  things  saith  the  first  and  the  last,  which  was 
dead,  and  is  alive  ;  I  know  thy  works,  and  tribulation, 
and  poverty  (but  thou  art  rich),  and  I  know  the 
blasphemy  of  them  which  say  they  are  Jews  and  are 
not,  but  are  the  synagogue  of  Satan.  Fear  none  of 
those  things  which  thou  slialt  suffer.  Behold,  the 
devil  shall  cast  some  of  you  into  prison,  that  ye  may 
be  tried :  and  ye  shall  have  tribulation  ten  days  ;  be 
thou  faithful  unto  death,  and  I  will  give  thee  a  crown 
of  life.  He  that  hath  an  ear,  let  him  hear  what  the 
Spirit  saith  unto  the  churches :  He  that  overcometh, 
shall  not  be  hurt  of  the  second  death.     Rev.  2  :  8 — 11. 

^  SMYRNA. 

Sailing  up  a  beautiful  gulf  for  thirty  miles,  our 
eyes  caught  sight  at  length  of  the  busy  empo- 


THE    EPISTLE    TO    SMYRNA.  131 

rium  that  crowns  its  head.  And  this  is  Smyrna ! 
—  still  the  great  mart  of  the  Levant,  nmnerous 
ships  in  her  harbor,  and  gayly  painted  boats  dartr 
ing  hither  and  thither ;  the  town  stretching  two 
miles  or  more  along  a  narrow  plain  that  inter- 
venes between  the  water  and  a  hill,  against  whose 
base  the  city  presses.  This  is  Smyrna,  the  crown 
of  Ionia,  the  ornament  of  Asia,  as  the  ancients 
called  her ;  and  yet  not  the  same  now,  for  ten 
times  has  she  risen  anew  from  the  ruins  of  war 
or  earthquakes.  With  what  sagacity  and  taste 
did  the  Greeks  of  old  select  the  sites  of  their 
cities  —  so  often  fronting  upon  the  fine  sheet  of 
water,  and  resting  in  the  rear  upon  a  mountain 
that  supplied  at  once  marble  for  building,  and  a 
natural  ornament  and  defence  ! 

This,  then,  is  Smyrna,  in  classic  times  one 
of  the  most  flourishing  and  magnificent  cities  of 
Asia,  and  famous  not  only  for  her  commerce, 
but  for  her  schools  of  rhetoric  and  philosophy. 
We  hasten  to  the  shore.  We  thread  our  way 
through  crowded  bazaars,  and  streets  so  narrow 
that  over  some  of  them  the  eaves  of  opposite 
houses  almost  meet,  though  all  of  them  have  but 


132  MORNING    HOURS   IN   PATMOS. 

one  story  above  the  basement,  and  from  none  is 
a  chimney  seen  to  rise.  What  a  variety  of  nar 
tions  and  costumes  is  there  among  the  one 
hundred  and  fifty  thousand  inhabitants,  who 
occupy  different  quarters  of  the  town  according 
to  their  faith, — here  Armenians,  there  Greeks ; 
the  Turk  in  a  more  commanding  section,  and  the 
Jew  in  the  most  obscure. 

We  chmb  to  the  summit  of  Mount  Pagus,  once 
the  Acropohs,  and  where  still  stands  a  ruined 
castle.  We  look  down  upon  the  city  with  its 
barn-like  churches,  its  mosques  and  minarets ; 
upon  the  extensive  cemeteries,  with  their  sombre 
cypresses,  and  in  some  of  which  the  turbaned 
tombstones  indicate  the  standing  and  office  of 
each  turbaned  Moslem  who  sleeps  beneath.  Along 
the  approaches  to  the  city  we  observe  caravans 
of  laden  camels,  the  only  vehicle  of  the  country. 
We  look  off  upon  mountains  and  plains  rich  in 
historic  memories.  Our  eye  lingers  around  the 
spot  where  the  Haemvis  discharges  its  bright 
waters,  and  we  watch  the  silvery  course  of  the 
Meles,  which  gave  a  name  to  Homer ;  for  Smyrna 
claims  to  have  given  birth  to  the  patriarch  of 


THE   EPISTLE    TO    SMYRNA.  133 

uninspired  poets,  and  to  his  name  she  built  a 
splendid  temple  and  statue. 

At  a  httle  distance  from  where  we  stand  was 
the  Stadium ;  and  here,  upon  this  immediate  spot, 
stood  the  amphitheatre.  Yes,  on  that  side  were 
the  seats  for  spectators,  and  on  this  side  you  see 
remains  of  the  dens  where  wild  beasts  were  kept; 
and  here,  with  a  solitary  cypress  beside  it,  is  the 
reputed  tomb  of  Polycarp,  the  martyr  Bishop  of 
the  place,  who  on  this  high  altar  sealed  with  his 
blood  his  loyalty  to  Christ.  From  the  summit 
thus  hallowed,  our  eye  at  once  glances  to  the 
village  of  Boujah,  distant  a  league  or  two,  where 
sleepi,  beneath  a  more  luxuriant  cypress,  the 
remains  of  the  well-known  Sarah  Lanman  Smith. 

At  the  memory  of  these,  and  of  all  faithful 
witnesses  for  Jesus,  our  hearts  rejoice. 

"  Sing  to  the  Lord  !  let  harp  and  lute  and  voice 
Up  to  the  expanding  gates  of  Heaven  rejoice, 

While  the  bright  martyrs  to  their  rest  are  borne : 
Sing  to  the  Lord  !  their  blood-stained  course  is  run, 
And  every  head  its  diadem  hath  won, 

Rich  as  the  purple  of  the  Summer's  morn : 
Sing  the  triumphant  champions  of  their  God, 
While  burn  their  mounting  feet  along  their  sky-ward  road." 
12 


134  MORNING   HOURS    IN   PATMOS. 

THE   LIVING    ONE. 

In  dwelling  on  Christ* s  epistle  to  Ephesus,  it 
was  remarked  tliat  he  introduces  each  of  these 
letters  with  some  one  or  more  of  his  character- 
istics, as  disclosed  by  the  opening  vision.  In  the 
present  instance  we  have  : 

"  These  things  saith  the  First  and  the  Last,  which 
was  dead,  and  is  alive." 

It  is  also  to  be  borne  in  mind,  that  the  church 
at  Smyrna  is  one  of  the  only  two  out  of  the 
whole  seven  which  receive  no  censure,  and  to 
whom  all  that  is  addressed  by  the  enthroned 
Saviour  wears  the  aspect  of  commendation  and 
encouragement,  If,  now,  we  may  suppose  there 
is  a  designed  correspondence  between  the  title 
selected  and  the  character  of  each  particular 
church  —  and  is  there  not  ground  for  such  a  sup- 
position ?  —  then  may  we  derive  a  comforting 
consideration  from  the  words  in  their  connection. 
It  is  his  own  eternity,  his  complete  and  glorious 
independence,  which  our  Lord  would  bring  par- 
ticularly  to   the   view  of  faithful   yet   suffering 


THE    EPISTLE   TO   SMYRNA.  135 

disciples  at  Smyrna.  About  to  speak  of  their 
tribulations,  he  introduces  himself  as  "  the  first 
and  the  last,  which  was  dead,  and  is  alive  ; "  and 
he  thus  intimates  to  us  under  what  character  we 
are  to  look  to  him  in  our  deeper  trials.  It  is  no 
recent  friend  who  spake  of  old,  and  who  speaks 
to-day  to  distressed  disciples, — no  inexperienced, 
though  well-meaning  acquaintance,  who  proffers 
a  doubtful  ability  for  our  succor,  —  but  one  who 
has  summered  and  wintered  with  the  family 
from  the  first ;  who  stood  by  our  brethren  under 
the. persecuting  Roman  emperors;  who  stood  by 
the  three  confessors  in  the  burning  fiery  furnace ; 
who  was  with  the  church  in  the  wilderness,  with 
her  in  the  ark,  and  before  the  deluge  ;  the  same 
yesterday,  to-day  and  forever.  All  that  is  soul- 
quieting  and  elevating,  all  of  strength  and  incite- 
ment that  resides  in  the  attributes  of  eternity 
and  unborrowed,  infinite  fulness,  belong  to  Him 
from  whom  comes  the  message. 

This,  too,  is  enhanced  and  brought  down  within 
the  reach  of  our  sinking  souls  and  feeble  arms, 
by  a  community  of  experience.  These  high 
qualities  of  Him  who  dictates  the   epistle,  are 


136  MORNING    HOURS    IN    PATMOS. 

presented  in  connection  with  his  suffering  man* 
hood,  and  the  atonement. 

THE   SUBJECT-MATTER    OF  ADDRESS. 

"  I  know  thy  works,  and  tribulation,  and  poverty." 

Ah !  how  did  that  thrill  the  hearts  of  brethren 
and  sisters  in  Christ  at  Smyrna !  How  does  it 
thrill  ours !  It  is  not  a  letter  of  inquiry  that  is 
handed  to  us,  —  a  note  from  some  kind-hearted 
stranger,  who  has  had  an  intimation  that  we  are 
in  circumstances  of  want  and  peculiar  trial,  and 
who  wishes  to  be  informed  in  what  way  he  can 
aid  us.  We  have  nothing  to  tell  him ;  he  is  per- 
fectly apprised  of  all  that  is  done,  and  all  that  is 
suffered.  "  I  know  thy  works,  and  tribulation,  and 
poverty ;  my  thoughts  are  not  all  occupied  with 
these  adoring  seraphim  round  about  me  here  in 
glory,  with  the  jubilant  songs  of  David  and 
Isaiah ;  my  eye  is  upon  you  too,  little  flock ;  my 
ear  catches  every  sigh,  and  every  supplication." 

The  heart  of  Christ  is  with  us.  The  Elder 
Brother  stands  confessed  as  truly  and  closely  as 
when  an  agitated  company  heard  the  words,  "  I 


THE    EPISTLE    TO    SMYRNA.  137 

am  Joseph;,  your  brother  ! "  You  who  are  striv- 
ings amidst  many  domestic  disadvantages,  to  serve 
your  Lord  and  Master  ;  you  whose  efforts  after  a 
more  strict  conformity  to  him,  and  a  more  active 
discharge  of  Christian  duties,  are  not  seconded  as 
they  should  be ;  you  whose  pubHc  acts  or  private 
proceedings  are  misconstrued,  and  on  whom  reck- 
less tongues  open  a  fusilade ;  you  who  often  meet 
rebuffs  and  vexations  in  your  noiseless  home  mis- 
sionary work ;  and  you  who  feel  the  force  of  a 
vertical  sun,  and  of  heathen  jibes,  or  Mohamme- 
dan execrations,  —  all  ye  saints  in  Christ  Jesus, 
who  are  suffering  aught  for  his  sake,  —  rejoice 
and  be  exceeding  glad.  He  who  is  the  first  and 
the  last,  who  was  dead  and  is  alive,  knows  it  all. 
There  is  a  telegraph  from  each  throbbing  heart  to 
the  throne  on  high.  Every  tremor  of  fear,  every 
pang  of  grief,  every  throb  of  holy  joy,  is  regis- 
tered. Oh,  how  soothing  the  thought !  With 
what  consoling  power  does  it  come,  that  One  on 
high  is  all  the  while  thinking  of  us  and  looking 
upon  us ! 

"I    know   thy    poverty;    but   thou   art  rich." 
Strange  paradox,  is  it  not  ?     Nay,  only  to  those 

12* 


138  MORNING   HOURS    IN   PATMOS. 

who  have  never  learned  to  judge  aright.  The 
pohtical  economy  of  the  Bible  has  faith  for  its 
fundamental  principle,  —  that  faith  which  is  the 
substance  of  things  hoped  for,  the  evidence  of 
things  not  seen;  which  silently  carries  on  its 
foreign  commerce,  laying  up  treasures  where 
moth  nor  rust  corrupt,  and  where  thieves  do  not 
break  through  nor  steal.  One  may  be  —  we  see 
it  every  day  —  poor  in  temporalities,  but  wealthy 
in  things  spiritual.  In  a  literal  sense,  who  is  the 
rich  man  ?  The  man  whose  desires  and  means 
measure  each  other;  who  has  no  need  to  bor- 
row, and  has  no  temptation  to  flatter ;  who  does 
not  envy  the  possessions  of  others,  and  cheer- 
fully foregoes  what  he  cannot  suitably  obtain ; 
he  who  is  least  covetous,  and  most  contented, 
must  be  pronounced  the  true  millionaire.  But 
the  poor  man,  the  really  poor  one,  and  ever 
growing  poorer  and  poorer,  is  he  who  desires 
and  dreams  of  that  which  he  has  not;  who 
hoards  and  doats  on  the  coin  not  current  in 
heaven ;  the  man  who  is  verging  nearer  and 
nearer  to  that  awful  bankruptcy,  which  makes 


THE    EPISTLE    TO    SMYRNA.  139 

the  victim  cry,  "  Soul,  thou  hast  much  goods  laid 
up  for  many  years !" 

A  widow  lady,  with  a  very  small  income,  was 
remarkable  for  her  generous  liberality,  especially 
for  religious  objects.  In  process  of  time,  she 
came  in  possession  of  an  ample  fortune.  But  it 
was  with  deep  regret  that  her  pastor  observed 
she  no  longer  gave  spontaneously  to  aid  the 
cause  of  Christ,  and  when  applied  to,  gave 
grudgingly,  and  sometimes  not  at  all.  On  one 
occasion,  having  presented  a  shilling,  where  she 
had  formerly  given  a  guinea,  her  minister  felt 
it  his  duty  to  expostulate  with  her.  "  Ah,  sir," 
she  replied,  "  then  I  had  the  shilling  means,  but 
the  guinea  heart ;  now  I  have  the  guinea  means, 
but  only  the  shilling  heart.  Then,  I  received 
from  my  heavenly  Father's  hand,  day  by  day, 
my  daily  bread,  and  I  had  enough,  and  to 
spare;  now,  I  have  to  look  to  my  ample  in- 
come ;  but  I  live  in  constant  apprehension  that 
I  may  come  to  want."  And  generally,  who  are 
those  harassed  by  the  fear  of  poverty?  Who 
are  they  that  have  most  of  corroding  cares 
about   property  ?      Not   those   in   moderate,   or 


140  MORNING    HOURS    IN   PATMOS. 

ill  straitened  worldly  circunistances.  A  distin- 
guished physician  states,  that  the  patients  in 
our  lunatic  asylums  who  are  and  have  been 
goaded  by  the  fear  of  want,  are  persons  of 
wealth,  and  that  the  dread  of  poverty  seldom, 
if  ever,  brings  insanity  to  the  truly  poor.  There 
is  many  a  rich  poor  man,  and  many  a  poor  rich 
man. 

At  the  date  of  this  epistle  before  us,  who 
really  held  all  the  wealth  in  the  world?  Not 
the  Emperor  Domitian,  counting  his  revenue  by 
millions  of  sestertii;  not  an  oriental  prince, 
whose  vaults  were  filled  to  overflow  with  gold 
and  diamonds ;  but  the  banished  old  man  on 
Patmos,  and  such  as  he ;  the  disinherited,  out- 
cast believer  at  Smyrna,  and  such  as  he.  For 
this  historical  statement,  we  have  the  authority 
of  no  Tacitus  or  Gibbon,  but  of  Him  who  is  the 
first  and  the  last :  "  I  know  thy  works,  and  tribu- 
lation, and  poverty;  but  thou  art  rich."  The 
indigent  Christians  of  Smyrna  were  rich  toward 
God  —  rich  in  faith,  rich  in  the  fruits  of  the 
Spirit,  with  a  reversionary  title  to  an  inheri- 
tance inestimable  and  incorruptible.      "  Having 


THE    EPISTLE    TO    SMYRNA.  141 

nothing,  they  possessed  all  things;"  they  alone 
were  lifted  above  all  fear  of  want. 

SATAN'S   SYNAGOGUE. 

"  And  I  know  the  blasphemy  of  them  which  say 
they  are  Jews,  and  arc  not,  but  are  the  synagogue 
of  Satan." 

The  solution  of  this  is  probably  to  be  found  in 
such  passages  as  these :  "  For  he  is  not  a  Jew, 
which  is  one  outwardly ;  neither  is  that  circum- 
cision, which  is  outward  in  the  flesh.  But  he  is 
a  Jew,  which  is  one  inwardly ;  and  circumcision 
is  that  of  the  heart,  in  the  spirit,  and  not  in 
the  letter ;  whose  praise  is  not  of  men,  but  of 
God."  "  For  they  are  not  all  Israel,  which  are 
of  Israel ;  neither  because  they  are  the  seed  of 
Abraham,  are  they  all  children;  but,  in  Isaac 
shall  thy  seed  be  called.  That  is.  They  which 
are  the  children  of  the  flesh,  these  are  not  the 
children  of  God :  but  the  children  of  the  prom- 
ise are  counted  for  the  seed." 

A  citizenship,  with  its  immunities,  in  God's 
spiritual  kingdom,  is   not   indicated  by  natural 


142  MORNING   HOURS    IN   PATMOS. 

descent  or  outward  ordinance,  but  by  inward 
transformation,  and  invisible  naturalization.  For 
any  company  of  persons,  therefore,  destitute  of 
the  seal  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  to  get  together  and 
cry :  "  The  temple  of  the  Lord  —  The  temple  of 
the  Lord  are  we ! "  is  by  the  Lord  himself  pro- 
nounced blasphemy.  Are  there  no  modern 
parallels  ?  The  mild  and  judicious  Henry  says : 
"  As  Christ  has  a  church  in  the  world,  the  spir- 
itual Israel  of  God,  so  the  devil  has  his  syna- 
gogue ;  those  assemblies  that  are  set  up  in 
op|)osition  to  the  truths  of  the  gospel,  and  that 
promote  and  propagate  damnable  errors;  those 
which  are  set  up  in  opposition  to  the  purity 
and  spirituality  of  gospel-worship,  and  promote 
and  propagate  the  vain  inventions  of  men,  and 
rites  and  ceremonies  which  never  entered  the 
thoughts  of  God ;  and  those  assemblies  which 
are  set  up  to  revile  and  persecute  the  true 
worship  and  worshippers  of  God,  —  these  are  all 
synagogues  of  Satan.  He  presides  over  them, 
he  works  in  them,  his  interests  are  served  by 
them,  and  he  receives  a  horrid  homage  and 
honor  from  them." 


THE   EPISTLE    TO  SMYRNA.  143 

Touching  that  most  obvious  right,  rehgious 
freedom,  the  present  Pope  says:  "The  absurd 
and  erroneous  doctrines  or  ravings  in  defence 
of  conscience,  is  a  pestilential  error,  —  a  pest  of 
all  others  most  to  be  dreaded  in  the  State." 
One  Koman  Catholic  journal  of  this  country 
makes  use  of  the  following  language :  "  When, 
we  ask,  did  we  profess  to  be  tolerant  of  Protes- 
tantism, or  to  favor  the  doctrine  that  Protestant- 
ism ought  to  be  tolerated?  On  the  contrary, 
we  hate  Protestantism,  —  we  detest  it  with  our 
whole  heart  and  soul,  and  pr^y  our  aversion 
to  it  may  never  decrease."  Another  says : 
"  There  can  be  no  religion  without  an  Inquisi- 
tion, which  is  wisely  designed  for  the  promotion 
and  protection  of  the  faith."  To  whose  syna- 
gogue do  such  belong  ? 

HOLY  COURAGE  ENJOINED. 

"  Fear  none  of  these  things  which  thou  shalt  suffer." 

Excellence  is  no  safeguard  against  persecu- 
tion; it  rather  provokes  it,  and,  in  turn,  is 
promoted  by  it.      The   comparatively  blameless 


14.4  MORNING  HOURS    IN  PATMOS. 

church  at  Smyrna,  as  well  as  others,  had  a 
prophetic  perspective  of  sufferings  opened  up 
before  them.  To  have  said  then,  to  say  now. 
Strange  that  so  good  a  man,  so  good  a  woman, 
should  suffer  so  much,  would  betray  forgetful- 
ness  of  the  example,  the  pledges  and  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  Great  Captain  of  our  salvation, 
who  was  made  perfect  through  sufferings ;  whose 
declaration  is,  "In  the  world  ye  shall  have  trib- 
ulation," but  whose  word  still  is,  "  Fear  none  of 
those  things  which  thou  shalt  suffer."  The  great 
Apostle  of  the  Gentiles,  taking  pleasure  himself 
in  his  infirmities,  distresses,  persecutions,  writes 
to  the  Phihppian  Christians :  "  Unto  you  it  is 
given" — as  one  of  the  good  and  perfect  gifts 
coming  down  from  the  Father  of  lights  —  "  Unto 
you  it  is  given  in  the  behalf  of  Christ,  not  only 
to  believe  on  him,  but  also  to  suffer  for  his 
sake."  There  is  generally  something  wanting 
about  those  who  have  never  been  severely 
tried. 

Those  wholly  strangers  to  the  dungeon,  and 
the  fiery  furnace,  must  also  be  strangers  to  cer- 
tain depths  of  import  in  this  inspiriting  message, 


THE    EPISTLE    TO    SMYRNA.  145 

"Fear  none  of  those   things  which   thou  shalt 
suffer." 

A  word  of  encouragement  from  human  lips, 
especially  if  it  send  the  thoughts  to  the  Great 
Source  of  support,  is  most  welcome.  Just  as 
Martin  Luther  was  about  to  appear  in  the  pres- 
ence of  his  judges  at  the  Diet  of  Worms,  the 
venerable  and  valiant  knight  George  Freunds- 
berg  said  to  him:  "My  poor  monk,  my  poor 
monk !  thou  hast  a  march  and  a  struggle  to  go 
through,  such  as  neither  I  nor  many  other  cap- 
tains have  seen  the  like  in  our  most  bloody 
battles.  But  if  thy  cause  be  just,  and  thou  art 
sure  of  it,  go  forward  in  God's  name,  and  fear 
nothing !  He  will  not  forsake  thee."  But  how 
is  the  whole  soul  calmed,  and  girded  for  contest 
and  suffering,  when  we  hear  the  voice  of  Him 
who  is  the  first  and  the  last,  which  was  dead 
and  is  alive,  saying,  "  Fear  none  of  those  things 
which  thou  shalt  suffer!"  And  is  not  he  who  has 
promised,  faithful?  Has  his  grace  been  found 
insufficient  by  any  sufferer  in  any  exigency  ? 

\^  Behold   the   devil   shall    cast   some   of   you   into 
:  13 


146  MORNING   HOURS    IN   PATMOS. 

prison,  that  ye   may  be   tried.      And   ye   shall  have 
tribulation  for  ten  days." 

The  incarceration  of  Christ's  people,  and 
every  form  in  which  they  are  persecuted,  are 
by  the  instigation  of  the  devil.  If  prophetic 
days  are  here  meant,  then  is  the  definite  period 
of  ten  years  signified.  It  is  a  noticeable  fact, 
that  the  last  and  bloodiest  persecution,  under 
Diocletian,  continued  ten  years,  —  from  the  year 
of  our  Lord  302  to  312,  —  during  which  the 
Asiatic  churches  suffered  extremely. 

A    CORONATION  PROMISED. 

"  Be  thou  faithful  unto  death,  and  I  will  give  thee 
a  crown  of  life." 

The  Christians  of  Smyrna  are  not  bidden  to 
make  an  urgent  representation  of  their  case  to 
the  proconsul ;  to  carry  an  appeal  before  the 
emperor,  and  seek  redress ;  not  to  flee  from  the 
city,  nor  to  gird  on  sword  and  buckler,  and 
make  a  valiant  stand  for  liberty  of  conscience; 
but  they  are  bidden  to  be  faithful  to  the  doc- 


THE    EPISTLE    TO    SMYRNA.  147 

trines  and  duties  of  their  religion,  faithful  unto 
death. 

There  is  a  promise :  "  And  I  will  give  thee  a 
crown  of  life."  Those  poor,  despised  disciples 
of  Smyrna,  candidates  for  the  wreath  of  victory, 
and  that,  too,  from  the  hand  of  the  King  of 
kings  !  Yes,  and  you  too,  followers  of  the  Lord 
Jesus,  struggling  with  poverty,  oppressed  with 
loneliness,  ready  to  sink  in  the  deep  waters  of 
trial,  '^  now  are  ye  sons  of  God ; "  ye  are  of  the 
seed  royal ;  be  ye  faithful  unto  death,  and  ye 
shall  have  a  crown  of  life.  Paul  the  aged 
caught  a  glimpse  of  that  victor's  wreath  which 
was  laid  up  for  him,  and  not  for  him  only,  but  for 
all  them  also  that  love  Christ's  appearing.  Pov- 
erty-stricken disciple,  in  the  midst  of  great  trib- 
ulations! thou  art  a  prince  of  the  blood,  yea, 
crown-prince.  Be  thou  faithful  unto  death ; 
then  Christ's  appearing  will  be  thy  coronation 
day.  And  when,  ere  long,  you  pass  on  to  the 
world  of  spirits,  let  flowers  be  strown,  let  men 
clap  their  hands,  let  lingering  heirs-apparent 
here  look  up  with  half-envious  joy  as  angels 
escort  you  to  hear  the  welcome,   "  Well  done. 


148  MORNING   HOURS    IN    PATMOS. 

good  and  faithful  servant!  enter  thou  into  the 
jo  J  of  thy  Lordl" 

THE  MARTYR   POLYCARP. 

That  salutation,  we  have  no  doubt,  awaited  the 
venerable  Polycarp,  who  was  angel  of  the  church 
in  Smyrna.  He  has  been  apprehended.  The 
Irenarch,  Herod,  and  his  father  Nicetes  meet 
him.  They  take  him  into  their  chariot,  and  be- 
gin to  advise  him,  asking,  "  What  harm  is  it  to 
say.  Lord  Caesar?  and  to  sacrifice,  and  be  safe  ?" 
He  is  silent ;  but,  being  pressed,  replies :  "  I  will 
not  follow  your  advice."  Unable  to  persuade 
him,  they  treat  him  abusively,  and  thrust  him 
out  of  the  chariot,  so  that  in  falling  he  bruises 
his  thigh.  Still  unmoved,  as  if  nothing  had  oc- 
curred, he  goes  on  cheerfully,  under  the  conduct 
of  his  guards,  to  the  Stadium.  The  proconsul 
urges  him:  "Swear,  and  I  will  release  thee;" 
"Reproach  Christ."  Poly  carp  rejoins :  "Eighty 
and  six  years  have  I  served  him,  and  he  hath 
never  wronged  me  ;  and  how  can  I  blaspheme  my 
King  who  hath  saved  me?"     The  proconsul  still 


THE    EPISTLE    TO    SMYRNA.  149 

urges :  "  Swear  by  the  fortune  of  Ca3sar."  Poly- 
carp  replies :  "  If  you  still  vainly  contend  to 
make  me  swear  by  the  fortune  of  Caesar,  as  you 
speak,  affecting  an  ignorance  of  my  real  charac- 
ter, hear  me  frankly  declaring  what  I  am ;  I  am 
a  Christian."  —  "I  have  wild  beasts,"  says  the 
proconsul ;  "  I  will  expose  you  to  them,  unless 
you  repent." — ^^  Call  them,"  repUes  the  martyr. 
"  I  will  tame  your  spirit  by  fire,"  says  the  other, 
"since  you  despise  the  wild  beasts,  unless  you 
repent."  —  "You  threaten,"  answers  Polycarp, 
"  with  fire  which  burns  for  a  moment,  and  will 
be  soon  extinct ;  but  you  are  ignorant  of  the 
future  judgment,  and  of  the  fire  of  eternal  pun- 
ishment reserved  for  the  ungodly.  But  why  do 
you  delay  ?  Do  what  you  please."  Saying  this, 
and  more,  he  is  filled  with  confidence  and  joy, 
and  grace  shines  in  his  countenance.  He  is 
fiiithful  unto  death.  Just  before  his  soul  goes 
up  amidst  the  flames  of  martyrdom,  he  pours 
forth  this  prayer: 

"0  Father  of  thy  beloved  and  blessed  Son 
Jesus  Christ,  through  whom  we  have  attained 
the  knowledge  of  thee !    0  God  of  angels  and 

13* 


150  MORXING  HOUPwS   IN   PATMOS. 

principalities,  and  of  all  creation,  and  of  all  the 
just  who  live  in  thy  sight !  I  bless  thee  that  thou 
hast  counted  me  worthy  of  this  day  and  this 
hour,  to  receive  my  portion  in  the  number  of 
martyrs,  in  the  cup  of  Christ,  for  the  resurrec- 
tion to  eternal  life,  both  of  soul  and  body,  in  the 
incorruption  of  the  Holy  Ghost ;  among  whom 
may  I  be  received  before  thee  this  day,  as 
a  sacrifice  well-savored  and  acceptable,  which 
thou  the  faithful  and  true  God  hast  prepared, 
promised  beforehand,  and  fulfilled  accordingly. 
Wherefore  I  praise  thee  for  all  those  things. 
I  bless  thee,  I  glorify  thee,  by  the  eternal 
High  Priest,  Jesus  Christ,  thy  well-beloved  Son ; 
through  whom,  with  him,  in  the  Holy  Spirit, 
be  glory  to  thee,  both  now  and  forever.     Amen." 

"  He  that  hath  an  ear,  let  him  hear  what  the  Spirit 
saith  unto  the  churches:  He  that  overcometh  shall 
not  be  hurt  of  the  second  death." 

Whose  ear  is  not  open  ?  Who  can  close  the 
ear  to  such  a  message  ?  The  first  death  is  of 
small  moiifent;  but  the  second  —  that  death  in 


THE    EPISTLE    TO    SMYRNA.  151 

"  the  blackness  of  darkness  forever,"  that  "  wrath 
to  come/'  that  "  everlasting  destruction  from  the 
presence  of  the  Lord"  —  whose  soul  does  not 
quake  at  the  sound? 

"  'T  is  not  the  whole  of  life  to  live, 
Nor  all  of  death  to  die. 

"  There  is  a  death  whose  pang 
*  Outlasts  the  fleeting  breath ; 
Oh,  what  eternal  horrors  hang 
Around  '  the  second  death ! '  '* 


THE  EPISTLE    TO  PERGAM08. 

And  to  the  angel  of  the  church  in  Pergamos  write : 
These  things  saith  he  which  hath  the  sharp  sword 
with  two  edges,  I  know  thy  works  and  where  thou 
dwellest,  even  where  Satan's  seat  is  ;  and  thou  holdest 
fast  my  name,  and  hast  not  denied  my  faith,  even  in 
those  days  wherein  Antipas  was  my  faithful  martyr, 
who  was  slain  among  you  where  Satan  dwelleth.  But 
I  have  a  few  things  against  thee,  because  thou  hast 
there  them  that  hold  the  doctrine  of  Balaam,  who 
taught  Balak  to  cast  a  stumbling-block  before  the 
children  of  Israel,  to  eat  things  sacrificed  unto  idols, 
and  to  commit  fornication.  So  hast  thou  also  them 
that  hold  the  doctrine  of  the  Nicolaitanes,  which  thing 
I  hate.  Repent ;  or  else  I  will  come  unto  thee  quickly, 
and  will  fight  against  thee  with  the  sword  of  my 
mouth.  He  that  hath  an  ear,  let  him  hear  what  the 
Spirit  saith  unto  the  churches :  To  him  that  over- 
cometh  will  I  give  to  eat  of  the  hidden  manna,  and 


THE   EPISTLE   TO    PERGAMOS.  153 

will  give  him  a  white  stone,  and  in  the  stone  a  new 
name  written,  which  no  man  knoweth  saving  he  that 
receiveth  it.     Rev.  2  :  12—17. 

PERGAMOS. 

The  first  of  the  seven  messages  is  to  Ephesus, 
the  nearest  of  the  churches,  and  almost  within 
sight  of  the  apostle's  island-prison.  That  epistle 
is  one  of  mingled  commendation  and  censure. 
The  next,  to  the  church  at  Smyrna,  is  charac- 
terized by  the  absence  of  all  censure.  There 
now  follows  one  similar  to  the  first  in  the  series. 
These  messages  occur  in  the  geographical  order 
of  the  cities  named ;  Smyrna  lying  at  a  mod- 
erate distance  to  the  north  of  Ephesus,  upon 
the  coast,  and  Pergamos  about  the  same  distance 
beyond  the  latter,  though  retired  somewhat  from 
the  sea.  A  right  line  from  this,  the  most  northern 
of  the  seven  cities,  to  Patmos,  would  not  run  far 
from  either  of  the  other  two  just  mentioned. 

Making  an  excursion  to  Pergamos,  we  find  it 
twenty  miles  from  the  coast,  on  the  north  side 
of  the  river  Caicus,  partly  on  a  hill-side,  but 
chiefly  on  a  plain  of  great  beauty  and  fertility, 


154  MORNING   HOURS   IN   PATMOS. 

stretching  westward  to  the  ^gean  Sea,  and 
bounded,  apparently,  by  the  blue  mountains  of 
Mitylene.  We  approach  the  modern  city,  called 
Bergamo,  through  avenues  lined  with  Turkish 
cemeteries,  abounding  here,  as  elsewhere,  with 
poplars  and  cypresses. 

But,  how  changed  from  what  it  was !  Fourteen 
thousand  inhabitants  are  sheltered  in  rude  cabin- 
like houses,  amidst  the  massive  ruins  of  former 
magnificence.  A  river  still  runs  through  the  an- 
cient amphitheatre.  One  of  the  bridges  across 
the  main  stream  is  of  such  width  as  to  form  a 
tunnel  underneath,  a  furlong  in  length,  while  on 
the  bridge  may  still  be  seen  the  foundations  of 
an  immense  palace. 

Here,  then,  was  once  the  capital  of  a  kingdom, 
that  of  the  wealthy  Attali.  Here  was  born  the 
celebrated  Galen ;  here  was  an  unrivalled  temple 
of  jEsculapius ;  here  may  still  be  found  earliest 
samples  of  tesselated  pavements;  here  tapestries 
first  adorned  the  halls  of  royalty.  This  city 
gave  name  to  parchments ;  and  from  here  Mark 
Antony  carried  away  a  library  of  two  hundred 
thousand  volumes,  as  a  present .  to  Queen  Cleo- 


THE    EPISTLE    TO    PERGAMOS.  155 

patra.  It  was  a  metropolis  of  literature,  splendor, 
and  immorality.  But  we  are  more  interested  to 
know  the  state  of  the  first  Christian  church  in 
Pergamos. 

THE   IRRESISTIBLE    WORD. 

"  And  to  the  angel  of  the  church  in  Pergamos 
write  :  These  things  saith  he  which  hath  the  sharp 
sword  with  two  edges." 

From  the  symbols  under  which  the  Lord  Jesus 
reveals  himself  in  the  vision,  he  here  selects  a 
startling  representative  of  one  attribute  of  his — 
the  sharp  sword  with  two  edges.  By  this  is  in- 
dicated the  fearful  efficiency  of  his  sentence. 
His  is  a  sword  that  cuts  deep.  How  shall  it 
be  parried  ?  Who  has  an  effective  shield  ?  By 
the  breath  of  his  mouth  was  the  fig-tree  with- 
ered; and  is  not  his  word  quick  and  powerful, 
and  sharper  than  any  two-edged  sword,  piercing 
even  to  the  dividing  asunder  of  soul  and  spirit  ? 
Will  not  the  Lord,  at  the  appointed  time,  con- 
sume the  wicked  one,  with  the  spirit  of  his 
mouth,  and  destroy  him  with  the  brightness  of 


156  MORNING   HOURS    IN   PATH  OS. 

his  coming  ?  Has  not  the  breath  of  his  mouth 
kindled  a  fire  that  shall  burn  to  the  lowest  hell  ? 
What  terrific  energy  there  is  in  Christ's  voice  ! 
That  breath  which  once  breathed  peace  in  the 
ear  of  agitated  disciples;  which  spoke  so  sooth- 
ingly the  words,  "  Son,  be  of  good  cheer,  thy  sins 
be  forgiven  thee  ;  which  sent  forth  the  sweetest 
invitation  ever  uttered  in  human  hearing, "  Come 
unto  me  all  ye  that  labor  and  are  heavy  laden, 
and  I  will  give  you  rest,"  —  that  voice  will, 
ere  long,  speak  in  trumpet-tones,  pronouncing  a 
word  at  which  millions  will  quake,  "  Depart,  ye 
cursed  !  "  As  the  sound  of  many  waters,  may  it 
reverberate  in  the  soul  of  every  one  now  at  ease 
in  Zion ! 

CHRIST'S    COGNIZANCE    OF    THE    CHURCH. 

"  I  know  thy  works,  and  where  thou  dwellest,  even 
where  Satan's  seat  is." 

The  church  at  Pergamos  need  not  fear  that 
the  Lord  will  forget  them  in  their  tribulations, 
nor  dream  that  he  will  overlook  them  in  their 
declensions.     "  I  know  thy  works,"  —  I  know  the 


THE    EPISTLE    TO    PERGAMOS.  157 

daily  deportment  of  every  member;  I  know 
your  business  dealings ;  I  know  the  character  of 
your  recreations ;  I  know  the  tone  of  your  social 
intercourse ;  I  know  the  neglect  or  performance 
of  private  duties ;  I  know  who  is  punctual  at  the 
sanctuary,  and  I  mark  those  who  sometimes  slip 
away  to  a  place  of  heathen  worship  ;  I  know  who 
of. you  are  never  at  the  assembly  for  conference 
and  prayer,  and  who  merely  drop  in  now  and 
then ;  I  know  who  of  you  silently  debate  the  ques- 
tion of  contracting  marriage  with  a  known  unbe- 
liever, and  I  know  who  proceed  openly  to  the 
same.  Thy  works  —  all  thy  works,  private  and 
public,  from  first  to  last  —  I  know. 

"  And  where  thou  dwellest."  All  the  peculiar- 
ities of  Pergamos  are  familiar  to  me.  Whatever 
allowance  should  be  made  or  not  be  made  on 
their  account,  I  am  able  to  decide ;  and  impar- 
tiality will  govern  the  decision. 

"  Where  Satan's  seat  is."  But  is  not  Satan  the 
God  of  this  world  ?  Do  we  not  read  of  his  work- 
ing in  the  children  —  all  the  children  of  disobe- 
dience ;  and  that  he  hath  blinded  the  minds  of 
them  —  all  of  them  that  believe  not?     Indeed, 

14 


158  MORNING   HOURS    IN    PATMOS. 

we  do,  yet  consistently  with  the  fact  that  he 
also  has  a  special  home  in  particular  places,  and 
particular  hearts.  In  one  of  the  very  earliest 
records  extant,  we  read :  "  Now  there  was  a  day 
when  the  sons  of  God  came  to  present  them- 
selves before  the  Lord,  and  Satan  came  also 
among  them.  And  the  Lord  said  unto  Satan, 
Whence  comest  thou  ?  Then  Satan  answered  the 
Lord  and  said.  From  going  to  and  fro  in  the 
earth,  and  from  walking  up  and  down  in  it." 
Amidst  his  general  movements  and  operations,  he 
manifested  himself  especially  in  that  gathering  at 
that  time.  Does  not  his  presence,  and  that  of 
subordinate  spirits,  seem  to  be  only  less  than 
ubiquitous  ? 

There  is  nothing,  however,  to  require  an  equal 
distribution  of  his  malicious  efficiency.  He  is 
allowed  to  discriminate  and  concentrate.  Hence, 
in  all  lands,  certain  localities  are  his  strongholds, 
and  certain  individuals  his  select  agents.  The 
city  of  Benares,  in  Hindostan,  is  now  one  of 
Satan's  heathen  seats,  where  he  holds,  and  for 
centuries  has  held,  his  court.  But  whoever  has  in- 
spected a  heathen  idol-car,  or  witnessed  a  heathen 


THE    EPISTLE    TO    PERGAMOS.  159 

festival,  with  its  insane  and  abominable  orgies ; 
whoever  has  looked  into  a  Brahminic  temple, 
with  its  hideous  images,  its  dark,  filthy  apart- 
ments and  passages,  must  have  pronounced  each 
to  be  one  of  Satan's  seats. 

Papal  Kome  is  another.  There  is  the  central 
residence  of  the  Man  of  Sin,  even  him  whose 
coming  is  after  the  working  of  Satan,  with  all 
power,  and  signs,  and  lying  wonders.  Every 
court  of  Inquisition,  every  Jesuit  college,  is  one 
of  Satan's  chosen  seats  and  pleasure-houses.  So 
is  every  infidel  press ;  the  study  of  every  pan- 
theist, and  of  many  a  novelist;  and  it  would 
seem  that  every  circle  of  spiritualists  and  table- 
turners  is  a  place  of  diabolical  gymnastics. 

He  who  hath  the  sharp  sword  with'  two  edges 
is  particularly  observant  of  all  such  centres  of 
special  infernal  agency,  and  of  his  own  disciples, 
when  residents  in  their  neighborhood.  The 
church  of  Pergamos  came  specially  within  his 
penetrating  glance.  Full  well  did  he  know  that 
there  was  Satan's  seat.  The  city  was  wholly 
given  to  idolatry.  Nowhere  else  did  the  god 
iEsculapius    receive    such    distinguished    honors. 


160  MORNING    HOURS    IN   PAT M OS. 

There  Asiatic  effeminacy  at  that  time  attained  its 
lowest  degradation ;  wantonness  and  debauchery 
were  triumphant. 

THEIR   FIDELITY  ACKNOWLEDGED. 

"  And  thou  boldest  fast  my  name,  and  hast  not 
denied  my  faith,  even  in  those  days  wherein  Antipas 
was  my  faithful  martyr,  who  was  slain  among  you, 
where  Satan  dwelleth." 

They  avowed  themselves  Christians ;  they  had 
not  become  ashamed  of  bearing  a  title  which 
invited  the  scorn  and  enmity  of  all  around.  To 
profess  Christianity  at  that  time  was  to  incur  the 
loss  of  goods,  the  loss  of  position,  and  the  loss 
of  affection.  It  was  to  incur  the  sneers  of  the 
populace,  and  the  suspicion  of  the  magistrate. 
Confessing  Christ  then,  was  often  to  receive  the 
seal  of  martyrdom.  Nobly  did  many  a  disciple 
of  our  Lord,  under  examination  before  the  civil 
tribunal,  reply  to  every  question,  "  I  am  a  Chris- 
tian."— "What  are  you  ?"  said  a  Koman  governor 
of  Cilicia  to  the  first  of  three  men  brought  be- 
fore  him  at  Tarsus,  —  "What  are  you?"     The 


THE    EPISTLE    TO    PERGAMOS.  161 

prisoner  replied,  "A  Christian."  He  was  scourged, 
chained,  and  thrown  into  a  dismal  dungeon.  The 
second  of  them  was  asked,  "What  is  your 
name  ?"  He  answered,  "  The  most  valuable  name 
I  can  boast  is  that  of  a  Christian."  Scourged  till 
every  part  of  his  body  flowed  with  blood,  he 
too  was  cast  into  prison.  The  third,  brought  up 
and  interrogated  in  the  same  manner,  replied,  "  I 
am  a  Christian,"  and  then  suffered  the  same 
torture.  Similar  scenes  were  doubtless  wit- 
nessed at  Pergamos,  for  there,  too,  had  been 
martyrdom. 

"  Where  Satan  dwelleth."  Persecution  is  emi- 
nently a  Satanic  work.  In  the  iniquitous  trials 
of  Christ's  faithful  witnesses  —  the  hatred,  the 
perjury,  the  mockery  of  justice  exhibited,  and  in 
the  punishments  inflicted  upon  them — how  do  all 
the  passions  of  the  pit  inflame  the  human  actors 
and  spectators !  Their  fiendish  shouts  are  in- 
cense most  acceptable  to  the  Prince  of  darkness. 
The  fact  of  a  Christian  martyrdom  at  Pergamos, 
was  one  proof  of  the  presence  of  Satan's  seat 
there.     Who  Antipas  was,  we  know  not ;  enough 

that  his  record  is  on  high. 

14* 


162  MORNING   HOURS   IN  PATMOS. 

We  would  pause  here,  and  look  back  on 
Christ's  commendation  of  his  people  in  that 
wicked  city.  Our  hearts  rejoice  while  we  see 
him  going  just  as  far  in  that  commendation  as 
the  facts  would  warrant.  Impressive,  terrific 
even,  as  is  the  outward  form  under  which  he 
reveals  himself  in  Patmos,  there  beats  beneath 
that  a  heart  of  fathomless  love  for  his  true  disci- 
ples. And  though  faithfulness  to  them  requires 
the  plainest  reproof  and  warning,  yet  will  he  first 
make  mention  of  their  trials  and  the  peculiar 
disadvantages  of  their  residence.  Behold  the 
goodness  and  severity  of  God !  0  thou  Alpha 
and  Omega!  thou  Prince  of  the  kings  of  the 
earth,  who  hast  the  sharp  sword  with  two  edges, 
what  tenderness  to  thy  ransomed  people  dwells 
in  thy  bosom  !  How  art  thou  evermore  the 
Good  Shepherd  to  thy  little  flock ! 

FALSE   DOCTRINES  REPROBATED. 

"  But  I  have  a  few  things  against  thee,  because  thou 
hast  there  them  that  hold  the  doctrine  of  Balaam, 
who  taught  Balak  to  cast  a  stumbling-block  before  tlie 


THE    EPISTLE    TO    PERGAMOS.  163 

children  of  Israel,  to  eat  things  sacrificed  unto  idols, 
and  to  commit  fornication.  So  hast  thou  also  them 
that  hold  the  doctrine  of  the  Nicolaitanes,  which  thing 
I  hate." 

It  here  attracts  notice,  that  our  Lord  does  not 
regard  disadvantages  of  location  as  an  apology 
for  unfaithfulness.  To  be  where  Satan's  seat  is, 
whether  in  Pergamos  or  in  the  pit,  is  no  valid 
excuse  for  sin.  It  holds  good  in  every  house,  in 
every  city,  in  every  world,  "  Thou  shalt  love  the 
Lord  thy  God  with  all  thy  soul,  mind,  and 
strength." 

There  is  a  great  deal  of  mere  local  virtue,  of  ? 
geographical  piety.  It  is  painful  to  find  how 
much  of  sobriety  and  outward  correctness  ap- 
pears to  be  owing  to  the  simple  matter  of  lati- 
tude and  longitude ;  how  removal  from  one's 
native  atmosphere,  from  the  restraints  of  a  whole- 
some public  sentiment,  from  the  customary  obser- 
vation of  watchful  eyes,  seems  often  to  be  the 
signal  of  an  equally  wide  remove  from  previous 
proprieties  of  behavior.  Not  a  few  professors  at 
the  East,  when  going  to  our  western  country,  con- 
ceal their  church  membership;  and  some,  when 


164  MORNING   HOURS    IN    PATMOS. 

going  to  Europe,  act  worse  than  merely  to  con- 
ceal the  same.  The  adage,  "With  the  Romans,  do 
as  the  Romans  do,"  has  m  reality  more  force 
than  the  most  positive  command  of  the  Lord 
Almighty.  Practically,  many  a  one  acts  upon  the 
maxim,  While  in  Satan's  seat,  let  us  do  as  Satan 
would  have  us.  Would  that  it  might  be  kept  in 
mind,  that  a  godless  family,  a  wicked  neighbor- 
hood, a  dissolute  city,  a  foreign  country,  do  not 
take  one  beyond  the  domain  of  God's  holy  law, 
or  the  reach  of  his  omniscient  eye ! 

If,  then.  He  whose  eyes  are  as  a  flame  of  fire, 
shows  the  church  in  Pergamos  no  leniency  on 
the  score  of  their  residing,  though  providentially, 
where  Satan's  seat  is,  how  must  he  look  upon 
the  delinquencies  of  his-  professed  people  in  this 
land  ?  Under  our  vine  and  fig-tree,  none  to 
make  us  afraid ;  the  bounties  of  God's  provi- 
dence flowing  in  upon  us  abundantly ;  the  means 
and  the  oflers  of  his  grace,  if  possible,  yet  more 
abundant ;  no  heathen  around  to  beguile  or 
annoy;  in  our  heritage,  which  has  come  to  us 
bathed  in  the  tears  and  hallowed  by  the  prayers 
of  men  who  walked  with  God  ;  —  with  what  an 


THE    EPISTLE    TO    PERGAMOS.  165 

eye  must  the  Lord  Jesus  look  upon  us  !  What 
apology  have  we  to  offer  for  supineness,  for  world- 
Imess,  for  withholding  our  substance  from  his 
treasury,  and  our  children  from  the  most  self- 
denying  branches  and  places  of  his  service  ?  If 
an  easy  Christianity  be  ours,  if  the  doctrine  of 
Balaam  and  of  the  Nicolaitanes  be  held  by  us, 
better  had  we  lived  in  Bethsaida  or  Capernaum, 
—  better  in  Sodom  or  Gomorrah. 

What  are  the  "few  things"  which  our  Lord 
has  against  the  Pergamean  church  ?  "  Thou  hast 
there  them  that  hold  the  doctrine  of  Balaam,"  — 
them  whose  spirit  is  the  same  with  his,  and  whose 
teaching  leads  to  the  same  results.  It  was  at  the 
suggestion  of  that  money-loving  prophet  that  the 
King  of  Moab  seduced  the  children  of  Israel  into 
those  licentious  practices  which  usually  attend 
heathen  worship  and  festivals.  He  "taught 
Balak  to  cast  a  stumbling-block  before  the  chil- 
dren of  Israel,  to  eat  things  sacrificed  to  idols,  and 
to  commit  fornication." 

The  chief  fault  of  the  church  at  Pergamos 
was  their  toleratino;  among;  them  men  whose 
teachings  had  a  corrupting  tendency.    There  was 


166  MORNING    HOURS    IN    P  ATM  OS. 

guilty  remissness  on  their  part,  in  not  arousing  to 
the  discipUne,  and,  if  need  be,  to  the  expulsion,  of 
those  who  were  vitiating  the  doctrines  and  prac- 
tices of  the  church.  No  body  of  believers  that 
does  not  maintain  scriptural  discipline,  may  look 
for  the  favor  of  him  who  is  Head  of  the  church, 
and  is  jealous  for  the  purity  of  its  faith  and  order. 
Stumbling-blocks  must  be  removed,  be  they  per- 
sons or  customs,  incompatible  with  the  peace, 
purity,  and  growth  of  Christ's  church. 

"  So  hast  thou  also  them  that  hold  the  doctrine 
of  the  Nicolaitanes,  which  thing  I  hate."  The 
church  at  Ephesus,  as  we  have  seen,  was  culpable 
also,  but  not  to  the  same  degree,  or  in  the  same 
way,  as  this  at  Pergamos.  They  had,  indeed,  left, 
but  only  left,  their  first  love.  In  the  matter  of 
false  teachers,  and  unsound  doctrines,  they  re- 
ceived commendation :  "  Thou  hast  tried  them 
that  say  they  are  apostles,  and  are  not,  and  hast 
found  them  liars."  "This  thou  hast,  that  thou 
hatest  the  deeds  of  the  Nicolaitanes,  which  I  also 
hate."  What  the  Nicolaitanes  held,  or  what  their 
practices  were,  we  are  not  informed.  This  we 
know,  that  Christ  hated  their  doctrines  and  their 


THE   EPISTLE    TO    PERGAMOS.  107 

deeds.  It  is  not  in  a  private  conversation  that 
our  Lord  drops  these  remarks,  but  in  all  the 
dignity  and  solemnity  of  official  utterance,  and 
with  the  intent  that  they  go  down  to  the  end  of 
time,  a  warning  to  every  disciple  and  every 
Christian  church.  It  is  not  wicked  practice  alone, 
but  false  doctrine,  which  awakens  the  deep  dis- 
like, the  detestation  of  Jesus  Christ :  '^  Which 
thing  I  hate."  And  herein  are  we  to  follow  him, 
"  abhorrino;  that  which  is  evil."  A  distino-uished 
poet,  who  wrote  many  a  line  that  might  well 
have  been  blotted,  never  succeeded  in  condensing 
more  of  flippant  falsehood  into  few  words  than 
the  distich  so  often  quoted,  — 

"  For  modes  of  faith,  let  graceless  zealots  fight ; 
His  can't  be  wrong,  whose  life  is  in  the  right." 

Quite  consistent  and  natural  is  the  sentiment 
in  an  author  who  vibrated  between  Romanism 
and  Protestantism,  and  was  true  to  nothing  but 
bitterness.  The  chief  misfortune  about  these 
lines,  which  are  in  the  mouth  of  every  apologist 
for  lax  sentiments,  and  every  adherent  to  the 
doctrine  of  the  Nicolaitanes,  is,  that  it  brands  as  a 


168  MORNING   HOURS    IN   PATMOS. 

"  graceless  zealot/'  the  heroic  apostle  who  bids  us 
contend  earnestly  for  the  faith  once  delivered  to 
the  saints ;  that  it  puts  into  the  same  category 
of  "  graceless  zealots/'  the  whole  noble  army  of 
martyrs,  from  Stephen  to  the  present  hour. 

"  Repent ;  or  else  I  will  come  unto  thee  quickly, 
and  will  fight  against  them  with  the  sword  of  my 
mouth." 

Here  is  a  challenge  and  a  threatening.  Ke- 
pent ;  humble  yourselves  in  penitence  for  crim- 
inal toleration  of  dangerous  errorists,  and  their 
corrupt  practices.  Look  to  it,  that  offenders  are 
reformed  or  expelled,  lest  I,  who  dictate  this 
epistle,  quickly,  with  the  sharp  sword,  avenge  me 
of  my  adversaries. 

From  the  commendation  in  the  fourteenth 
verse,  it  would  seem  that  the  major  part  of  the 
church  were  still  sound  in  the  faith  ;  but  their  or- 
thodoxy could  not  sanctify  their  practical  defects. 
It  is  not  enough  that  professing  Christians  hold 
fast  the  name  of  Christ,  and  show  laudable  zeal  in 
defending  their  creed,  or  possess  even  the  martyr 
spirit  in  maintaining  one   class  of  duties,  while 


THE    EPISTLE    TO    PERGAMOS.  1G9 

another  class  is  neglected ;  consistency  of  prac- 
tice, and  symmetry  of  character,  are  also  de- 
manded. 

HIDDEN  MANNA   AND    THE    WHITE   STONE. 

"  He  that  hatli  an  ear,  let  him  hear  what  the  Spirit 
saith  unto  the  churches :  To  him  that  overcometh  will 
I  give  to  eat  of  the  hidden  manna,  and  will  give  him 
a  white  stone,  and  in  the  stone  a  new  name  written, 
which  no  man  knoweth,  saving  he  that  receiveth  it." 

A  censure  and  a  warning  have  been  communi- 
cated. The  tenderness  of  the  Saviour's  love 
shows  itself  once  more^  in  its  more  obvious  form. 
All  between  the  thirteenth  and  seventeenth 
verses  is  a  fearful  parenthesis,  —  startling  under- 
tones in  the  anthem  of  Immanuel's  good-will  to 
men. 

"  To  him  that  overcometh  will  I  give  to  eat  of 

the  hidden   manna."     After   victory  comes    the 

feast.    How  are  believers  allured  to  heaven  !    By 

what  imagery  of  reserved  blessedness  are  their 

souls  animated  for  present  struggles  !    With  what 

refreshing  supplies  are  they  furnished  after  each 

15 


ITO  MORNING   HOURS    IN   PATMOS. 

successive  victory  this  side  the  final  distribution 
of  crowns!  The  hidden  manna  has  healing  as 
well  as  nutritive  power.  It  is  the  balm  of  Gilead 
for  every  wounded  soldier  of  the  Great  King. 
The  Emperor  Caracalla,  like  many  another,  once 
repaired  to  Pergamos  to  try  the  virtues  of  its 
vaunted  drugs ;  but  he  went  away  as  much  an 
invalid  as  he  came.  Not  so  with  his  Christian 
subjects,  or  with  any  who  have  fought  the  good 
fight  of  faith.  Amid  contests  with  princij^alities 
of  darkness,  they  have  angels'  food,  bread  from 
heaven,  of  wdiich,  if  a  man  eat,  he  shall  never 
die.  Not  so  indispensable,  not  so  lasting,  not  so 
gladdening  was  the  manna  of  old,  Avhereof  was 
preserved  a  memorial  specimen  in  the  holy  of 
holies ;  on  wdiich,  however,  the  high-priest  alone 
might  look,  but  of  which  even  he  might  not 
taste.  The  food  here  promised,  and  now  fur- 
nished, is  the  free  portion  of  every  saint  whose 
life  is  hid  with  Christ  in  God,  and  is  thus  quick- 
ened and  invigorated. 

"  And  I  will  give  him  a  white  stone,  and  in 
the  stone  a  new  name  written,  which  no  man 
knoweth,  saving  he  that  receiveth  it."     To  him 


THE    EPISTLE   TO   PERGAMOS.  171 

that  overcometh  there  is  pledged  not  only  sup- 
lilies  for  lasting  spiritual  refreshment,  but  also  a 
token,  which  is  a  proof  of  friendship,  and  of  a 
right  to  peculiar  privileges.  It  is  not  necessary 
to  enlarge  upon  the  estimate  we  place  on  any- 
thing so  well  known,  whose  value  is  not  so  much 
intrinsic,  as  that  it  represents  the  donor's  heart, 
whose  fond  memory  calls  to  mind  many  such 
delicate  and  beautiful  pledges  — 

"  AH  the  token-flowers  that  tell 
What  words  can  never  speak  so  well." 

You  are  thinking  of  one  precious  ring,  and  of 
the  hour  when  it  was  received.  You  know  what 
initials  are  traced  within  that  more  than  golden 
heart's  treasure.  Connected  with  it  is  an  en- 
shrined history  known  to  no  one  but  the  giver, 
and  you  who  hold  the  sacred  gift.  To  the  faith- 
ful at  Pergamos,  and  to  all  the  faithful  in  Christ 
Jesus,  there  is  given  a  white  stone,  and  in  the 
stone  a  new  name  written,  which  no  man  know- 
eth  saving  he  that  receiveth  it. 

Various  ancient  customs  might  be  referred  to 
as  an  explanation  here,  but  the  most  satisfactory 


172  MORNING   HOURS    IN   PATMOS. 

appears  to  be  this  :  Among  the  usages  of  hospi- 
tality, it  was  the  case  that  when  a  host  and  a 
guest  contracted  friendship  for  each  other,  they 
would  take  some  small  article  appropriate  to  the 
purpose,  often  a  stone,  and  breaking  it  in  two, 
each  would  write  his  name  upon  the  piece  he 
held.  These  pieces  were  then  exchanged,  and 
were  called  tessarae  hospitales.  They  were  proofs 
respectively  of  private  friendship,  and  of  a  claim 
to  the  privileges  of  hospitality,  if  preserved  and 
presented  even  by  descendants  of  the  parties. 

Christian  pilgrim  1  you  call  to  mind  the  hour 
of  your  first  successful  contest  with  spiritual  ene- 
mies, and  how  the  one  who  was  passing  there, 
and  who  enabled  you  to  overcome,  kindly  took 
you  home  with  him,  and  gave  you  such  bread  as 
you  never  tasted  before.  And  did  he  not  give 
you  a  white  stone  with  a  new  name  in  it  ?  As 
you  now  look  at  the  precious  memento,  does  not 
that  seem  a  name  above  every  other  ?  And 
when  you  have  since  presented  yourself  from 
time  to  time  at  his  table,  and  have  shown  your 
token,  has  he  not  shown  its  counterpart  with  the 
name  you  wrote  when  you  subscribed  that  pri- 


THE   EPISTLE    TO    PER  GAM  OS.  173 

vate  compact  ?     Does  not  a  wayfarer  come  often 

to  jom'  door  and  knock,  and  you  open  the  door, 

and  he  shows  the  well-known  token ;  and  you  bid 

him  come  in,  and  he  sups  with  you,  and  you  with 

him  ? 

Be  careful  of  that  treasure ;  you  will  one  day 

want  it  still  more.     It  will  be  your  passport  at 

the  threshold  of  another  world.     And  when  at    \ 

length  you  come  to  the  marriage  supper  of  the  ( 

Lamb,  the  Master  will  draw  near,  and  you  must   / 

have  the  white  stone  with  the  new  name  upon  it   j 

ready ;  and  if  it  tallies  with  the  one  he  holds,  he 

will  say,  "Welcome!    sit  down   with   Abraham, 

and  Isaac,  and  Jacob,  in  my  kingdom,  and  go  no    ( 

more  out  forever."  / 

15*  ^  ( 


CIja;pter  pmtlj* 

TEE  EPISTLE    TO    THYATIRA. 

And  tinto  the  angel  of  the  church  in  Thyatira 
write:  These  things  saith  the  Son  of  God,  who  hath 
his  eyes  like  unto  a  flame  of  lire,  and  his  feet  are 
like  fine  brass.  I  know  thy  works,  and  charity,  and 
service,  and  faith,  and  thy  patience  and  thy  works ; 
and  the  last  to  be  more  than  the  first.  Notwith- 
standing, I  have  a  few  things  against  thee,  because 
thou  sufferest  that  woman  Jezebel,  which  calleth  her- 
self a  prophetess,  to  teach  and  to  seduce  my  servants 
to  commit  fornication,  and  to  eat  things  sacrificed  unto 
idols.  And  I  gave  her  space  to  repent  of  her  fornica- 
tion ;  and  she  repented  not.  Behold,  I  will  cast  her 
into  a  bed,  and  them  that  commit  adultery  with  her 
into  great  tribulation,  except  they  repent  of  their 
deeds.  And  I  will  kill  her  children  with  death ;  and 
all  the  churches  shall  know  that  I  am  he  which  search- 
eth  the  reins  and  hearts ;  and  I  will  give  unto  every 
one  of  you  according  to  your  works.     But  unto  you 


THE    EPISTLE    TO    THYATIRA.  175 

I  say,  and  unto  the  rest  in  Thyatira,  as  many  as  have 
not  this  doctrine,  and  which  have  not  known  the 
depths  of  Satan,  as  they  speak ;  I  will  put  upon  you 
none  other  burden.  But  that  which  ye  have  already, 
hold  fast  till  I  come.  And  he  that  overcometh,  and 
keepeth  my  works  unto  the  end,  to  him  will  I  give 
power  over  the  nations :  and  he  shall  rule  them  with 
a  rod  of  iron ;  as  the  vessels  of  a  potter  shall  they  be 
broken  to  shivers ;  even  as  I  received  of  my  Father ; 
and  I  will  give  him  the  morning-star.  He  that  hath 
an  ear,  let  him  hear  what  the  Spirit  saith  unto  the 
churches.     Rev.  2  :  18—29. 

THYATIRA. 

There  was  anciently  a  Eoman  road,  running 
from  Pergamos  seventy-five  miles  in  a  south- 
easterly direction,  near  the  northern  line  of  the 
kingdom  of  Lydia,  to  Sardis  its  capital.  Not 
far  from  two-thirds  of '  the  way  to  Sardis,  was 
Thyatira.  It  was  a  city  of  no  very  high  an- 
tiquity, nor  does  it  hold  a  conspicuous  jDlace  in 
secular  history.  It  is  said  to  have  been  founded 
by  a  Macedonian  colony.  This  may  stand  con- 
nected with  the  circumstance,  that  when  Paul 


176  MORNING  HOURS   IN  PATMOS. 

preached  in  the  chief  city  of  Macedonia,  there 
was  present  a  certain  woman  named  Lydia,  a 
seller  of  purple,  of  the  city  of  Thyatira,  whose 
heart  the  Lord  opened  that  she  attended  unto 
the  things  which  were  spoken  of  Paul. 

There  is  no  record  of  the  time  or  manner  of 
the  introduction  of  Christianity  to  Thyatira ;  but 
it  is  not  improbable  that  the  pious  woman  who 
received  baptism  at  Philippi  had  the  first,  or  at 
least  an  important  though  humble  and  quiet 
agency,  in  making  known  the  name  of  Christ 
to  her  native  city.  It  was  a  female,  Anna,  the 
aged  prophetess,  who  first  spake  of  the  joyful 
appearance  of  our  Lord  to  all  them  that  looked 
for  redemption  in  Jerusalem ;  and  it  was  a 
woman  of  Samaria  who,  after  a  conversation  at 
Jacob's  Well,  hastened  to  invite  the  inhabitants 
of  Sychar  to  come  and  see  the  one  who  had 
told  her  all  things  that  ever  she  did,  adding, 
^^Is  not  this  the  Christ?"  The  agency  of  woman 
in  making  known  the  gospel,  fills  no  narrow 
space  in  the  history  of  the  church. 

A  wearisome,  l^ut  most  interesting  day's  ride 


THE    EPISTLE    TO    TIIYATIRA.  177 

from  Sardis,  brought  us  to  Thyatira  just  as  the 
shadows  of  Saturday  evening  lengthened  over 
the  plain.  That  plain,  surrounded  by  elevated 
hills,  and  between  ten  and  twenty  miles  in 
breadth,  is  well  watered  and  fertile.  Grain  and 
cotton  are  its  chief  productions.  The  city, 
having  a  low  and  almost  marshy  situation,  is  in 
a  measure  hid  from  the  approaching  traveller 
by  the  luxuriant  growth  of  willows,  poplars,  and 
cypresses.  More  than  half  a  dozen  minarets  pro- 
claim Mohammedan  ascendency  in  a  population 
of  seven  thousand  souls.  As  is  general  in  Turk- 
ish towns,  the  houses  are  low  and  mean,  and  the 
streets  narrow  and  dirty.  Indeed,  were  it  not 
for  a  fine  supply  of  pure  water  from  a  neighbor- 
ing hill,  they  would  be  intolerable.  Although  a 
place  of  some  trade,  neither  it  nor  its  environs 
present  very  much  to  please  the  eye  of  a  stran- 
ger. The  Turk  is  an  architect  of  ruin.  He  has 
no  reverence  for  antiquity,  and  little  regard  for 
perpetuity. 

On  the  hill  referred  to,  are  two  windmills  in 
ruins.  The  curb-stones  of  neighboring  w^ells  are 
the  fine  wrought  capitals  of  Corinthian  coliimns. 


178  MORNING  HOURS   IN  PATMOS. 

which  have  been  perforated^  and  through  which 
play  leaking  buckets,  suspended  from  rudest 
well-sweeps.  The  gravestones  in  the  cemeteries 
are  chiefly  fragments  from  antique  columns. 
Fragments  of  carved  stones  may  everywhere 
be  seen  in  the  pavement  of  the  streets,  and  in 
the  half-mud  walls  of  houses;  but  the  founda- 
tions, and  chief  remains  of  former  magnificence, 
are  for  the  most  part  buried  out  of  sight  by  the 
accumulated  debris  of  successive  centuries.  A 
deep  feeling  of  sadness,  not  to  say.  disgust,  is 
inevitable. 

It  serves,  however,  to  withdraw  thoughts  from 
the  past,  and  from  an  outwardly  unattractive 
aspect  of  the  present,  to  know  that  there  are 
souls  in  Thyatira  now  passing  their  probation 
—  souls  for  whom  our  common  Saviour  died. 
And  how  does  it  shed  even  a  radiance  upon 
that  otherwise  uninteresting  city ;  how  does  the 
thought  of  its  dingy  streets,  and  dismal  abodes, 
and  ignorant  populace,  quicken  the  pulse,  be- 
cause there  are  now  a  few  there,  in  the  judgment 
of  charity,  whose  minds  the  Holy  Spirit  has  en- 
lightened and  brought  into  the  family  of  Christ ! 


THE    EPISTLE   TO    THYATIRA.  179 

Tliyatira  is  an  out-station  of  the  American 
Board's  mission  at  Smyrna.  Through  the  agency 
of  laborers  from  this  country,  a  small  church 
has,  within  the  last  few  years,  been  gathered 
there,  and  is  probably  the  only  true  church 
which  has  existed  in  that  place  since  its  original 
candlestick  was  removed. 

A  Lydia  of  the  present  time,  the  wife  of  one 
Constantine,  a  Greek,  "besought  us,"  as  Lj^dia 
of  old  did  the  Apostles,  "saying.  If  ye  have 
judged  me  to  be  faithful  to  the  Lord,  come  into 
my  house,  and  abide  there ;  and  she  constrained 
us."  In  her  little  court-yard  was  a  flower-bed ; 
and  I  noticed  flowers  growing  in  other  houses  of 
Protestant  Christians.  They  are  emblematic  of 
those  Christian  families  in  that  spiritual  wilder- 
ness. The  attentive  hostess  poured  fresh  water 
upon  our  hands.  After  oriental  usage,  we  seated 
ourselves  upon  the  carpet,  leaning  upon  cushions. 
Supper  was  then  "  set  before  us  "  upon  the  floor ; 
and  after  our  repast,  the  family,  according  to  the 
custom  of  the  country,  said,  with  great  heartiness, 
"You  are  welcome."  The  prayer  of  her  guest 
then,  and  now  is,  "  The  Lord   give  mercy  unto 


180  MORNING  HOURS   IN   PATMOS. 

the  house  of  Onisephorus,  for  he  truly  refreshed 
me." 

I  will  not  detail  the  interesting  religious  ser- 
vices of  the  next  day,  which  was  the  Sabbath. 
During  one  of  them,  held  in  the  house  of  an 
Armenian,  "the  doors  being  shut  for  fear"  of 
the  bigoted  Greeks,  stones  were  thrown  at  us 
by  rude  boys  and  others  in  the  street.  At  the 
afternoon  service,  held  in  a  different  house,  where 
the  small  congregation  seemed  very  attentive 
and  devout,  the  native  preacher  had  no  other 
pulpit  than  a  large  basket,  covered  by  a  large 
copper  dish,  with  a  tablecloth  thrown  over  the 
whole. 

It  was  my  privilege  to  call  at  the  houses  of  all 
the  Protestants  in  the  city,  and  to  give  a  word 
of  private  exhortation  and  sympathy,  in  addition 
to  what  had  been  addressed  to  them  more  pub- 
licly and  collectively.  The  last  of  those  visits 
was  at  the  house  of  one  Demetrius,  a  Greek. 
During  conversation  with  him,  I  noticed  a  pile 
of  paving-stones  in  the  court,  under  the  flight  of 
stairs  leading  to  the  top  of  the  house.  Upon 
inquiry,  I  learned  that  they  were   thrown  in  by 


THE    EPISTLE    TO    THYATIRA.  181 

a  mob,  three  years  before,  when  Demetrius  was 
entertaining  a  Protestant  preacher  from  Con- 
stantinople. The  doors  and  windows  still  show 
with  what  violence  the  house  was  assaulted.  An 
impressive  monument,  that  rude  pile  of  stones! 
None  of  the  sculptured  sarcophagi,  none  of  the 
fluted  columns,  or  highly-wrought  entablatures 
belonging  to  ancient  edifices,  and  still  visible  in 
Thyatira,  so  moved  my  admiration  as  that  heap 
of  rough  paving-stones,  the  witness  of  heroic 
attachment  to  truth. 

The  Lord  be  your  defence,  ye  Protestants  of 
Thyatira !  The  Lord  be  praised  for  the  candle- 
stick restored,  and  the  light  rekindled !  May  it 
burn  more  and  more  brightly,  till  the  whole 
dark  region  is  illumined  !  The  Lord  give  your 
Stephen  the  grace  of  martyrdom,  if  occasion 
require !  The  Lord's  own  message  to  thee  is, 
"He  that  overcometh,  and  keepeth  my  works 
unto  the  end,  to  him  will  I  give  power  over  the 
nations,  and  I  will  give  him  the  morning-star. 
He  that  hath  an  ear,  let  him  hear  what  the 
Spirit  saith  uinto  the  churches." 

16 


182  MORNING   HOURS   IN  PATMOS. 

CHRIST'S   SEARCHING    SCRUTINY. 

"And  unto  the  angel  of  the  church  in  Thyatira 
write  :  These  things  saith  the  Son  of  God,  who  hath 
his  eyes  like  unto  a  flame  of  fire,  and  his  feet  are  like 
fine  brass." 

In  addition  to  the  title,  "  Son  of  God/'  there 
are  here  again  symbols  selected  from  the  intro- 
ductory vision.  They  are  well  suited  to  fix  at- 
tention, and  even  to  awaken  alarm,  for  the 
church  at  Thyatira  is  about  to  receive  a  sharp 
censure.  "These  things  saith  the  Son  of  God, 
who  hath  eyes  like  unto  a  flame  of  fire."  Eyes 
like  unto  a  flame  of  fire !  How  startling !  How 
had  those  addressed  by  this  message  doubtless 
grown  insensible  to  the  fact  of  such  piercing 
scrutiny.  How,  it  may  be,  has  the  one  reading 
these  lines  grown  oblivious  to  the  same !  Is  it 
so  that  you  are  habitually  more  thoughtful  about 
the  observation  of  men,  than  of  the  Son  of 
God  ?  When  tempted  to  use  the  tongue  or  the 
pen  wrongfully,  to  lay  a  hand  wrongfully  upon 
property,  to  do  some  indiscreet  or  wicked  act, 
do  you  not  look  cautiously  around  to  see  if  any 


TPIE    EPISTLE    TO    THYATIRA.  183 

human  spectator  is  in  sight,  unmindful  of  the 
presence  of  the  Son  of  God  ?  Do  you  not  some- 
times say,  "  Surely  the  darkness  shall  cover  me  "  ? 
not  thinking  of  his  eyes,  which  are  as  a  flame  of 
fire,  and  to  whom  the  darkness  and  the  light  are 
both  alike ;  who  compasseth  thy  path,  and  thy 
lying  down,  and  is  acquainted  with  all  thy  ways ; 
yea,  understandeth  thy  thought  afar  off. 

We  talk  of  secret  thoughts,  of  keeping  our 
own  counsels.  We  imagine  that  in  having 
turned  the  key  upon  private  documents,  they  are 
safe  from  every  one  ;  or,  as  a  last  resort  of  effect- 
ual suppression,  we  commit  them  to  the  flames. 
Eyes  like  unto  a  flame  of  fire  trace  every  word, 
even  in  the  evanescent  ashes  scattered  to  the 
winds.  Not  a  feeling,  not  a  purpose  arises  in  the 
mind  that  does  not,  though  unuttered,  indelibly 
daguerreotype  itself  there  under  the  great  Eye 
of  Heaven.  He  who  said  to  Nathaniel,  "  Before 
that  Philip  called  thee,  when  thou  wast  under 
the  fig-tree,  I  saw  thee  ;"  he  who  so  often  replied 
to  the  unexpressed  thoughts  of  those  about  him, 
and  "needed  not  that  any  should  testify  of  man, 
for  he  knew  what  was  in  man,"  —  "  his  eyes  be- 


184  MORNING  HOURS    IN  PATMOS. 

hold/'  —  keep  it  in  mind,  —  "  his  eyehds  try  the 
children  of  men."  You  have  no  secret  thoughts, 
no  hidden  purposes. 

"  And  his  feet  are  like  fine  brass."  He  moves 
amidst  his  churches  in  might  and  majesty ;  with 
purity  and  power ;  his  step  firm  and  awful.  He 
comes  for  inquest.  Careless  ones,  beware  !  You 
may  hear  his  approaching  footfalls.  With  resistr 
less  energy  will  he  trample  upon  all  the  unre- 
penting,  and  none  the  less  because  they  bear  his 
name. 

EXCELLENCES  RECOGNIZED. 

"  I  know  thy  works,  and  charity,  and  service,  and 
faith,  and  thy  patience,  and  thy  works ;  and  the  last 
to  be  more  than  the  first." 

How  marked  the  commendation  !  It  is  not 
merely  general,  and  condensed  into  a  single  word 
of  compliment ;  nor  do  these  varied  excellences 
simply  belong  to  them  at  the  time,  but  their 
virtues  are  on  the  increase  ;  at  least  their  religi- 
ous labors  are  more  abundant:  "And  the  last  to 
be  more  than  the  first."  They  were  more  indus- 
trious than  ever  in  their  Christian  efforts,  such  as 


THE    EPISTLE    TO    THYATIRA.  185 

they  were.  What  a  lovely  picture  !  What  an 
enviable  portraiture  !  Surely  no  dark  shade  will 
be  thrown  upon  it.  Yes,  darker  than  upon  the 
escutcheon  of  Ephesus,  or  even  Pergamos. 

NEGLECT   OF  DISCIPLINE    CENSURED. 

"  Notwithstanding,  I  have  a  few  things  against  thee, 
because  thou  sufferest  that  woman  Jezebel,  which 
calleth  herself  a  prophetess,  to  teach  and  to  seduce  my 
servants  to  commit  fornication,  and  to  eat  things 
sacrificed  unto  idols." 

The  Jezebel  of  Old  Testament  history,  daugh- 
ter of  Ethbaal,  king  of  the  Zidonians,  a  gifted, 
artful,  and  unscrupulous  woman,  married  Ahab. 
Reared  in  idolatry,  she  became  an  earnest 
and  successful  patroness  of  the  same  in  Israel. 
Through  her  influence  the  king  "went  and 
served  Baal,  and  worshipped  him.  And  he  reared 
up  an  altar  for  Baal,  in  the  house  of  Baal,  which 
he  had  built  in  Samaria.  And  Ahab  made  a 
grove  ;  and  Ahab  did  more  to  provoke  the  Lord 
God  of  Israel  to  anger,  than  all  the  kings  of 
Israel  that  were  before  him."     "  There  was  none 

16* 


186  MORNING   HOURS    IN   PATMOS. 

like  unto  Ahab,  which  did  sell  himself  to  work 
wickedness  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord,  whom  Jeze- 
bel his  wife  stirred  up." 

We  are  not  to  understand  that  there  was  at 
Thyatira  a  particular  person  bearing  that  name, 
nor  perhaps  that  any  individual  woman  w^as  indi- 
cated under  the  name  Jezebel,  so  much  as  a  class, 
a  faction,  whose  spirit  and  tendency  were  similar 
to  those  of  that  ancient  propagandist  of  heathen- 
ism. It  is  not  improbable  that  in  the  censured 
portion  of  the  church,  a  majority  were  females ; 
or,  at  least,  that  some  one  or  more  conspicu- 
ous and  active  individual  of  the  same  was  a 
woman.  A  party  appears  to  be  personified  un- 
der the  name  Jezebel,  and  for  the  same  reason 
that  the  rampant  error  at  Pergamos  was  called 
the  doctrine  of  Balaam.  It  would,  indeed,  be 
quite  analogous  to  the  circumstances  of  after- 
times,  if  there  had  been  at  Thyatira  some  strong- 
minded  woman,  insinuating,  and  influential  in 
giving  currency  to  pernicious  sentiments  and 
practices.  It  has  been  no  uncommon  thing, 
in  different  periods  of  church  history,  for  a 
female  zealot  of  error  and  mischief  to  figure  as 


THE    EPISTLE   TO    THYATIRA.  187 

lieresiarcli.  '^  Let  your  women  keep  silence  in 
the  churches ;  for  it  is  not  permitted  unto  them 
to  speak  ;  for  it  is  a  shame  for  women  to  speak  in 
the  church."  Such  an  offence  against  evident 
propriety  and  apostohcal  command,  existed  at 
Thyatira  :  "  Thou  sufferest  that  woman  Jezebel, 
which  calleth  herself  a  prophetess,  to  teach." 
They  were  inefficient  in  discipline ;  they  were 
weakly  and  criminally  tolerant.  Their  acknowl- 
edged virtues,  their  great  zeal  in  kind  offices  did 
by  no  means  atone  for  the  flagrant  mischief  of 
tolerating  such  a  pest  as  that  self  styled  proph- 
etess, who  was  seducing  Christ's  servants  to  com- 
mit fornication,  and  to  eat  things  sacrificed  unto 
idols. 

As  in  the  case  of  the  church  at  Pergamos, 
their  orthodoxy  did  not  screen  them  from  cen- 
sure and  threatening  for  failure  to  eject  the 
Balaamites,  so  now  at  Thyatira,  the  praiseworthy 
charity,  and  service,  and  faith,  and  patience,  and 
works  of  the  church,  do  not  avert  the  righteous 
visitation  of  Him  whose  eyes  are  as  a  flame  of 
fire. 


188  MORNING   HOURS    IN   PATMOS. 

RETRIBUTION   THREATENED. 

"  And  I  gave  her  space  to  repent  of  her  fornication  ; 
and  she  repented  not.  Behold  I  will  cast  her  into  a 
bed,  and  them  that  commit  adultery  with  her  into  great 
tribulation,  except  they  repent  of  their  deeds.  And  I 
will  kill  her  children  with  death  ;  and  all  the  churches 
shall  know  that  I  am  he  which  searcheth  the  reins  and 
hearts  ;  and  I  will  give  unto  every  one  of  you  accord- 
ing to  your  works." 

Apostasy  in  doctrine  or  practice  is  very  often, 
particularly  in  the  Old  Testament,  and  with  no- 
ticeable  frequency  in  Ezekiel,  spoken  of  under 
the  figure  of  this  crime.  By  children  we  are  to 
understand  the  disciples,  the  dupes,  of  that  cor- 
rupt and  corrupting  faction  whose  iniquity  is 
denominated  spiritual  fornication.  They,  with 
their  seducers,  were  to  be  cast  —  continuing  the 
figure  —  into  a  bed,  not  of  roses,  but  of  thorns. 
If  an  apostle  could  say,  "  I  am  jealous  over  you 
with  godly  jealousy  ;  for  I  have  espoused  you  to 
one  husband,  that  I  may  present  you  as  a  chaste 
virgin  to  Christ,"  how  much  more  may  Christ 
himself  be  jealous  for  the  honor  and  purity  of 


THE    EPISTLE    TO    THYATIRA.  189 

tlie  church,  which  he  has  won  to  himself  at  such 
an  infinite  cost,  including  his  own  precious  blood, 
—  the  church,  the  bride  who  has  given  the 
warmest  pledges  of  affection  and  fidelity !  The 
Lord  of  glory  has  no  sentimental  delicacy  in 
dealing  with  bold  offenders.  Is  not  the  denun- 
ciation here  recorded  most  just  ? 

Shall  not  he  whose  feet  are  like  fine  brass 
assert  his  judicial  rights,  his  vindicatory  purpose  ? 
He  will  have  the  churches  understand  and  feel 
their  responsibilities  touching  the  creed  they 
adopt,  the  teachings  to  which  they  listen,  and  the 
practices  they  tolerate.  Latitudinarianism  in  be- 
lief or  morals  is  treason  —  is  a  domestic  infidelity 
to  Him  whose  eyes  are  like  unto  a  flame  of  fire. 

A    CHARGE    TO    THE   FAITHFUL. 

"  But  unto  you,  I  say,  and  unto  the  rest,  even 
unto  the  rest,  —  or,  as  some  editors  read,  rightly 
throwing  out  the  conjunction  altogether  —  'Unto  you 
I  say,  unto  the  rest  in  Thyatira,  as  many  as  have  not 
this  doctrine,  and  which  have  not  known  the  depths  of 
Satan,  as  they  speak  ;  I  will  put  upon  you  none  other 
burden.'" 


190  MORNING   HOURS    IN   PATMOS. 

Having  denounced  just  judgments  upon  the 
Jezebel  of  Thyatira,  and  her  adherents,  should 
they  continue  impenitent,  our  Lord  now  turns  to 
address,  as  at  the  commencement,  those  not  im- 
plicated in  apostasy  from  the  marriage  covenant  : 
"  As  many  as  have  not  this  doctrine,  and  have 
not  known  the  depths  of  Satan,  as  they  speak." 
The  manner  in  which  that  faction  talked  and 
lived,  enticing  the  professed  Christians  of  Thya- 
tira  "to  commit  fornication,  and  to  eat  things 
sacrificed  unto  idols,"  revealed  the  deep  things 
of  the  Arch-adversary.  Such  a  j)ernicious  sub- 
tlety could  be  attributed  to  no  intellect  and  no 
heart  of  less  capacity  than  Satan's. 

It  is  worse  than  supercilious,  it  is  impudent 
infidelity,  for  men  boasting  of  philosophical  en- 
lightenment to  talk  about  the  superstition  of 
former  behef  in  a  personal  devil,  and  make 
themselves  merry  over  the  narrowmindedness  of 
those  who  cannot  quite  emancipate  themselves 
from  the  old  notion  of  a  real,  busy,  powerful 
prince  of  darkness.  For  our  own  part,  we  are 
disposed  to  think  that  He  who  is  Alpha  and 
Omega,  whose  eyes  are  as  a  flame  of  fire,  who 


THE    EPISTLE    TO    THYATIRA.  191 

searches  all  hearts  and  all  worlds,  knows  best 
about  it.  We  are  willing  to  be  a  good  way^ 
behind  the  so-called  liberal  philosophy,  and  the 
vaunted  spirit  of  the  age,  if  we  are  left  in  com- 
pany with,  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  Most  fully  do 
we  believe  that  Satan  —  an  active,  sagacious, 
malignant  spirit,  the  god  of  this  world  —  has 
to  do  largely  with  Mormonism,  Jesuitism,  Spir- 
itualism, and  a  good  deal  that  j)asses  under  the 
name  of  Christianity. 

"  I  will  put  upon  you  none  other  burden."  It 
was  enough  for  them  to  throw  off  the  enormity 
of  that  Jezebel.  There  is  seldom  a  case  of  re- 
quired discipline  in  which  the  whole  church  is 
not  practically  on  trial,  and  which  from  family, 
business,  or  other  connections,  does  not  give  rise 
to  a  party,  and  prove  an  entangled,  burdensome 
affair.  But  is  that  a  sufficient  reason  why  the  ear 
should  be  closed  to  the  Saviour's  summons  ? 
Nay,  let  all  the  churches  know  assuredly  that  it 
is  he  who  searcheth  the  reins  and  hearts  ;  and 
that  he  will  give  to  every  one  of  us  according  to 
our  works. 


192  MORNING   HOURS   IN   PATMOS. 

STEADFASTNESS   ENJOINED. 

"•  But  that  which  ye  have  already,  hold  fast  till  I 
come." 

"  Hold  fast "  come  what  may  of  perplexity,  of 
inconvenience,  of  suffering  :  "  Hold  fast,"  happen 
what  may,  swerve  who  may.  Sound  doctrine  and 
practical  godliness  are  all  that  is  worth  caring 
for.  Let  goods  be  spoiled,  your  name  cast  out  as 
evil,  "  Hold  fast  that  which  ye  have  till  I  come." 

It  calls  for  careful  consideration,  that  in  the 
New  Testament  those  appeals  to  believers  which 
derive  their  force  from  revelations  yet  future, 
turn,  very  often,  upon  the  grand  event  of  Christ's 
second  coming.  That  is  to  be  the  stupendous, 
all-consummating  crisis ;  then  will  come  the  res- 
urrection and  judgment,  and  the  new  and  more 
glorious  developments  of  his  kingdom.  Till  then 
nothing  in  the  spiritual  world  receives  its  final 
form  and  status.  The  creation  of  all  things  by 
Jesus  Christ,  his  incarnation  as  our  atoning  Sa- 
viour, his  second  coming  in  triumph  and  great 
glory,  are  the  three  grand  epochs  of  all  duration. 
The  sons  of  God  shouted  for  joy  at  the  first ;  a 


THE   EPISTLE    TO    THYATIRA.  193 

multitude  of  the  heavenly  host  sung  a  paean  at 
the  second ;  the  whole  ransomed  church  will  lift 
up  their  heads  with  an  exultant  song  at  the  last. 
Not  till  then  will  be  fulfilled,  in  its  more  blessed 
import,  Christ's  promise :  ^^  If  I  go  and  prepare  a 
place  for  you,  I  will  come  again  and  receive  you 
unto  myself,  that  where  I  am  there  ye  may  be 
also." 

Due  prominence  has  not  been  given  by  the 
general  Christian  mind  of  our  country  to  this 
momentous  truth,  while  the  event  of  the  indi- 
vidual deaths  of  believers  has  held  relatively  too 
high  a  place.  Our  Lord  and  his  apostles  spake 
less  of  Christians  dying  than  of  Christ's  coming 
again.  It  is  with  great  detriment  to  the  scrip- 
tural breadth  of  our  conceptions,  and  the  stable 
peace  of  our  souls,  that  we  erect  ourselves  into 
such  disproportionate  egotistical  prominence,  and 
fail  to  get  a  comprehensive  view  of  Christ's 
church  in  its  sympathetic  unity  with  itself,  and 
its  vital  union  wdth  him. 

It  was  not  alone  the  company  of  believers  at 

Thyatira  to  w^hom  Christ  said,  "That  wdiich  ye 

have  already,  hold  fast  till  I  come."    He  said  it  to 

17 


194  MORNING   HOURS    IN   PATMOS.   • 

the  Waldensian  cliurcli  of  Piedmont ;  he  said  it 
to  the  reformed  churches  of  the  sixteenth  cen- 
tury ;  he  said  it  to  the  church  on  Plymouth 
Eock,  and  to  the  entire  community  of  militant 
saints  onward.  How  have  Christ's  people  of 
former  generations  been  longing,  and  how  should 
w^e  still  patiently  long  for  his  appearing !  Said 
that  vigorous  reformer,  Martin  Luther:  "The 
world  has  grown  very  stubborn  and  headstrong 
since  the  revelation  of  the  word  of  the  gospel, 
it  begins  to  crack  sorely,  and  I  hope  wall  soon 
break  and  fall  on  a  heap,  through  the  coming  of 
the  day  of  judgment,  for  wdiich  we  w^ait  with 
yearnings  and  sighs  of  heart."  Said  Archbishop 
Usher :  "  We  should  always  live  in  expectation 
of  the  Lord  Jesus  in  the  clouds,  with  oil  in  our 
lamps,  prepared  for  his  coming." 

That  saintly  man  Joseph  Alleine,  testifies  : 
"  But  w^e  shall  lift  up  our  heads,  because  the  day 
of  our  redemption  draweth  nigh.  This  is  the 
day  I  look  for,  and  wait  for,  and  have  laid  up  all 
my  hopes  in.  If  the  Lord  return  not,  I  profess 
myself  undone ;  my  preaching  is  vain,  and  my 
suffering  is  vain."     "  The  thing  you  see  is  estab- 


THE    EPISTLE    TO    THYATIRA.  195 

lislied,  and  every  circumstance  is  determined. 
How  sweet  are  the  words  that  dropped  from  the 
precious  lips  of  our  departing  Lord  !  What  gen- 
erous cordials  hath  he  left  us  in  his  jDarting  ser- 
mons and  his  last  prayer !  And  yet^  of  all  the 
rest,  these  are  the  sweetest :  '  I  will  come  again 
and  receive  you  unto  myself,  that  where  I  am, 
there  you  may  be  also.'  What  need  you  any 
further  witness  ?  " 

THE    VICTORS    TO  BE    CROWNED. 

"And  he  that  ovcrcomethj  and  kecpeth  my  works 
unto  the  end,  to  him  will  I  give  power  over  the 
nations  ;  and  he  shall  rule  them  with  a  rod  of  iron  ; 
as  the  vessels  of  a  potter  shall  they  be  broken  to 
shivers ;  even  as  I  received  of  my  Father." 

To  him  —  whether  an  individual  saint,  a  par- 
ticular church,  or  the  whole  collective  household 
of  faith  —  to  them,  to  him  that  holds  fast  till 
Christ  reappears  -,  to  him  who  perseveres  in  fidel- 
ity, and  comes  off  victor  at  last,  will  the  Prince 
of  the  kings  of  the  earth  grant  a  most  exalted 
station ;  he  will  associate    him  with   himself  in 


196  MORNING   HOURS    IN   PATMOS. 

ruling  over  the  ungodly.  During  his  humble 
sojourn  on  earth  he  said,  while  acting  as  a  ser- 
vant to  his  disciples  —  and  there  was  something 
grandly  sublime  in  it  —  "I  appoint  unto  you  a 
kingdom,  as  my  Father  hath  appointed  unto  me." 
In  assured  expectation  of  that,  Paul  inquires : 
"  Do  ye  not  know  that  the  saints  shall  judge  the 
world  ? "  "  It  is  a  faithful  saying,  If  we  suffer, 
we  shall  also  reign  with  him." 

The  union  of  Christians  with  Christ,  begun 
here,  does  not  end  with  the  present  life  ;  nor  is  it 
a  union  merely  for  maintaining  the  believer's 
spiritual  life ;  it  is  also  for  securing  to  him  out- 
ward honor  and  immense  social  advancement. 
"  Then  shall  the  righteous  shine  forth  as  the  sun 
in  the  kingdom  of  their  Father;"  "To  him  that 
overcometh,  will  I  grant  to  sit  with  me  on  my 
throne,  even  as  I  also  overcame,  and  am  set  down 
with  my  Father  in  his  throne."  They  are  made, 
and  are  to  be  made,  kings  and  priests  unto  God 
and  his  Father ;  are  to  be  associated  with  the 
Lord  Jesus  in  high  functions  of  his  kingly  office ; 
are  to  be  raised  to  a  share  in  the  glories  and 
joys  of  Him   who  has  been  set  as  King  upon 


THE    EPISTLE    TO    THYATIRA.  197 

the  holy  hill  of  Zion.  In  a  measure  that  will 
exalt  to  participation  in  judgment,  ^'  To  him  will 
I  give  power  over  the  nations ;  and  he  shall  rule 
them  with  a  rod  of  iron ;  as  the  vessels  of  a  pot- 
ter shall  they  be  broken  in  shivers  ;  even  as  I  re- 
ceived of  my  Father."  No  pride,  no  revengeful 
feelings  will  attend  that  exaltation ;  yet,  sure  as 
is  the  word  of  Heaven,  the  Ancient  of  Days  will 
come,  and  the  saints  of  the  Most  High  will  rank 
side  by  side  with  Him,  on  whose  vesture  and  on 
whose  thigh  is  written  a  name  "King  of  kings, 
and  Lord  of  lords."  Oh,  marvellous  change !  Oh, 
surpassing  contrast !  That  little  flock  —  those 
poor,  despised  men,  women  and  children,  called 
evangelical  Christians,  on  a  throne  with  the  Lord 
of  heaven,  radiant  with  his  glory,  and  with  him 
wielding  a  sceptre  over  all  his  enemies  and 
theirs  !  The  universe  has  witnessed  nothing  like 
that,  save  the  supreme  coronation  of  Him  who 
once  had  not  where  to  lay  his  head. 

Joy  to  you,  ye  associates  of  the  enthroned 
Son  of  David  and  Son  of  God  !  All  hail  to  you, 
ye  Old  Testament  saints,  who  had  trial  of  cruel 
mocking  and  scourgings,  yea,  moreover,  of  bonds 


17 


198  MORNING   HOUPwS   IN   PATMOS. 

and  imprisonments !  ye  who  were  stoned,  were 
sawn  asunder,  were  tempted,  were  slain  with  the 
sword ;  who  wandered  about  in  sheep-skins  and 
goat-skins,  being  destitute,  afflicted,  tormented ; 
who  wandered  in  deserts,  and  in  mountains,  and 
in  dens,  and  caves  of  the  earth ;  —  ye  have  dif- 
ferent clothing  now,  very  different  accommoda- 
tions to-day.  With  your  Redeemer  ye  now  judge 
the  world.  Look  up,  ye  unrepenting  men  who 
stoned  Stephen !  ye  Jews  of  Thessalonica,  and 
lewd  fellows  of  the  baser  sort,  who  dragged 
Jason  and  certain  brethren  before  the  rulers, 
saying,  "  These  that  have  turned  the  world  up- 
side down  have  come  hither  also,"  —  look  up ! 
ye  now  stand  at  the  bar  of  the  Son  of  God,  and 
as  ye  persecuted  him  in  his  saints,  so  now  does 
he  judge  you  in  the  persons  of  the  same. 

Papal  Rome, thou  scarlet-clad  Jezebel, "drunken 
with  the  blood  of  the  saints"!  those  martyrs  of 
Jesus  hold  a  rod  of  iron  over  you.  Aye,  Baby- 
lon the  great  is  fallen,  is  fallen  !  "  Rejoice  over 
her,  thou  heaven,  and  ye  holy  apostles  and 
prophets ;  for  God  hath  avenged  you  on  her ! " 

There   are   hmitations   to    sympathy   for   the 


THE    EPISTLE    TO    THYATIRA.  199 

persecuted  disciples  of  Christ.  Wait  a  little ; 
those  defamed  and  reviled  as  the  filth  of  the 
world,  the  offscouring  of  all  things  unto  this 
day,  will  presently  shine  forth  as  the  brightness 
of  the  firmament,  and  will  sit  upon  a  throne  in- 
finitely higher  than  that  of  the  Caesars.  "  Fear 
not,  little  flock ;  it  is  your  Father's  good  pleasure 
to  give  you  the  kingdom."  Bide  your  time  ; 
the  day  for  a  distribution  of  crowns  and  scep- 
tres is  not  far  off! 

"  And  I  will  give  him  the  morning-star." 

The  blessed  condition  of  believers  between 
death  and  the  resurrection  is  a  sweet  harbinger 
of  the  far  more  blissful  state  that  will  follow. 
It  is  the  morning-star  to  the  sun  shining  in  his 
glory.  That  star  of  mild  and  beauteous  radi- 
ance, the  symbol  of  purity,  the  herald  of  full- 
orbed  day,  shall  be  the  victor  s  prize.  Let  any 
one  be  faithful  till  the  close  of  his  earthly  cam- 
paign, and  his  shall  be  an  immediate  inheritance 
of  light.  Till  the  great  epoch  of  coronation, 
the  whole  church  of  the  departed  wears  a  bril- 
liant gem  on  her  forehead ;  but  when  that  mar- 


200  MORNING    HOURS    IN    PATMOS. 

riage  morning  comes,  she  will  be  presented  a 
glorious  church,  the  pure  and  resplendent  bride 
of  Him  who  covereth  himself  with  light  as  with 
a  garment.  "  He  that  hath  an  ear,  let  him  hear 
what  the  Spirit  saith  unto  the  churches." 


TEE  EPISTLE    TO    SARDIS. 

And  unto  the  angel  of  the  church  in  Sardis  write : 
These  things  saith  he  who  hath  the  seven  spirits  of  God, 
and  the  seven  stars ;  I  know  thy  works,  that  thou  hast 
a  name  that  thou  livest,  and  art  dead.  Be  watchful, 
and  strengthen  the  things  which  remain  that  are  ready 
to  die ;  for  I  have  not  found  thy  works  perfect  before 
God.  Eemember,  therefore,  how  thou  hast  received 
and  heard,  and  hold  fast  and  repent.  If,  therefore, 
thou  shalt  not  watch,  I  will  come  on  thee  as  a  thief, 
and  thou  shalt  not  know  what  hour  I  will  come  upon 
thee.  Thou  hast  a  few  names  even  in  Sardis  which 
have  not  defiled  their  garments ;  and  they  shall  walk 
with  me  in  white  :  for  they  are  worthy.  He  that  over- 
cometh,  the  same  shall  be  clothed  in  white  raiment ; 
and  I  will  not  blot  his  name  out  of  the  book  of  life, 
but  I  will  confess  his  name  before  my  Father,  and 
before  his  angels.  He  that  hath  an  ear,  let  him  hear 
what  the  Spirit  saith  unto  the  churches.    Rev.  1  :  3 — 6. 


202  MORNING  HOURS   IN    PATMOS. 

SARDIS. 

"  0  Solon ! "  exclaimed  the  last  king  of  Sardis, 
as  he  lay  in  chains  on  the  funeral  pile.  His 
army  had  been  routed,  his  capital  was  in  the 
hands  of  victorious  Persians,  and  in  a  moment 
more  the  captive  monarch  himself  will  be 
wrapped  in  flames.  "  0  Solon,  Solon,  Solon ! " 
cries  the  wretched  man.  Pressed  to  tell  why 
he  repeats  the  philosopher's  name  so  earnestly, 
he  narrates  the  visit  of  that  celebrated  Athe- 
nian to  his  court,  who  remained  unmoved  by 
all  the  display  of  wealth  and  luxuries.  Solon 
could  not  be  betrayed  into  any  flattery  of  his 
royal  guest,  but  spoke  to  him  plainly  of  the 
vicissitudes  of  life,  of  the  dangers  and  reverses 
to  which  royalty  is  subject ;  and  bade  him  wait 
till  the  hour  of  death,  before  claiming  to  be 
pronounced  a  happy  man. 

O  Croesus !  Croesus !  was  the  irrepressible  ex- 
clamation, as  the  writer  stood  amidst  the  ruins 
of  that  monarch's  palace.  In  proceeding  to 
Thyatira,  we  made  a  detour  of  one  day,  in  order 
to  visit   this   ancient  capital  of   Lydia,  situated 


THE    EPISTLE    TO    SARDIS.  203 

between  fifty  and  sixty  miles  east  of  Smyrna. 
But  how  shall  I  describe  the  emotions  awakened, 
upon  reaching  the  site  of  that  once  thronged 
metropolis,  now  levelled,  and  its  ruins  nearly 
buried  by  debris  from  the  neighboring  moun- 
tain !  Here  stands  a  wall  of  great  thickness ; 
there,  the  remains  of  an  arch.  Our  horses  now 
leaped  a  prostrate  Roman  column,  and  now 
stumbled  against  a  Grecian  cornice.  At  the 
foot  of  the  hill  we  explored  a  roofless  and  more 
than  half-demolished  church,  and  on  the  slope 
above  traced  the  foundations  of  a  vast  amphi- 
theatre. 

But,  how  silent  now!  Oh,  what  desolation! 
The  wars,  earthquakes,  and  storms  of  centuries 
have  done  their  work  upon  the  once  proud  and 
populous  city.  Two  insignificant  mills,  one  small 
shop,  and  a  wretched  cafenet,  far  inferior  to  our 
stables,  make  up  the  present  village  of  Sart. 
There  is  not  a  family,  not  a  woman  there.  The 
Pactolus,  that  used  to  roll  down  golden  sands, 
now  turns  a  grist-mill;  and  amidst  the  streets 
and  gardens  of  what  was  once  the  rnost^  wealthy 
and  magnificent  city  of  Asia  Minor,  there   are 


204  MORNING   HOURS    IN   PATMOS. 

to-day  fields  of  that  most  abused  of  all  weeds, 
which  the  lazy  Turk  —  and,  alas !  not  the  Turk 
only  —  is  perpetually  smoking. 

I  climbed  to  the  almost  inaccessible  summit 
of  the  ancient  Acropohs,  once  crowned  by  a 
palace,  temple,  and  citadel,  and  around  which 
lay  the  enterprising  and  luxurious  city  of  Sar- 
dis.  That  eminence,  worn  by  the  elements,  and 
rent  by  earthquakes,  resembles  the  Acropolis 
of  Athens,  and  the  Castle  Hill  of  Edinburgh, 
though  more  lofty  and  precipitous  than  either 
of  them.  It  is  a  projecting  spur  from  the 
classical  Mount  Tmolus.  In  the  distance  stands 
the  abruptly  terminating  Sipylus,  of  which  Ho- 
mer sings,  and  on  a  vertical  rock  of  which  you 
may  still  see  the  rudely  sculptured  Niobe,  while 
a  hot  spring  at  the  base  still  sends  forth  her 
fabled  tears. 

Fronting  the  Acropolis  is  the  plain  of  Sardis, 
—  one  of  the  most  magnificent  and  fertile  in 
the  world, —  from  five  to  fifteen  miles  in  width, 
stretching  away  to  PhiladeljDhia  on  the  east  and 
Magnesia  on  the  Avest,  and  through  which  the 
Hermus  still  winds  its  silvery  way,  receiving  still 


THE    EPISTLE    TO    SARDIS.  205 

the  Pactolus,  which  flowed  through  the  ancient 
city. 

What  an  historic  panorama  presents  itself  to 
the  mind !  Across  that  plain  come  the  destruc- 
tive hordes  of  Turks  and  Saracens ;  the  Eoman 
eagles  are  seen  gleaming  in  the  sun ;  then  the 
tents  of  Xerxes'  millions  stud  the  plain  ^  the 
troops  of  Alexander,  flushed  with  victory  at  the 
Granicus,  march  to  the  gates,  demanding  and 
receiving  surrender;  while  the  hosts  of  Cyrus 
and  Croesus,  six  hundred  thousand  strong,  en- 
gage in  the  battle  of  Thymbria.  The  Lydian 
cavalry  come  flying  over  the  plain,  and  the  de- 
feated monarch  makes  a  last  stand  on  the  Acrop- 
olis. I  looked  down  the  precipice  where  the 
bold  Mardian  soldier,  as  a  thief  in  the  night, 
scaled  the  defences  at  an  unsuspected  spot,  and 
Sardis  fell. 

On  the  opposite  side  of  the  plain,  is  a  long, 
moderately  elevated  hill,  covered  with  mounds, 
called  by  the  Turks  Bin  Tepeh,  or  "  The  Thou- 
sand Hills."  That  is  the  Necropolis,  the  royal 
cemetery   of   Sardis,   where    kings   and    princes 

have  lain  entombed  nearly  three  thousand  years. 

18 


206  MORNING   HOURS    IN    PATMOS. 

We  visited  those  tumuli,  and  found  them  to  re- 
semble the  mounds  of  our  Western  country,  and 
the  pyramids  of  ancient  Mexico.  One  of  them, 
half  a  mile  in  circumference,  had  recently  been 
excavated  to  its  centre,  under  the  direction  of 
a  learned  society  in  Europe.  We  entered  by  a 
lateral  opening,  and,  with  torches,  penetrated 
along  the  narrow  gallery  to  the  immense  marble 
tomb.  It  is  the  mound  and  tomb  of  Alyattes, 
the  father  of  Croesus,  who  flourished  six  hundred 
years  before  Christ 

I  need  not  say  that  it  awakened  peculiar 
feelings  to  be  standing  there,  so  far  from  the 
light  of  day,  by  the  resting-place  of  one  who 
lived  as  long  before  the  writing  of  the  Apoca- 
lypse as  twice  the  period  since  the  discovery 
of  America,  —  a  monarch  who  reigned  when 
ancient  Kome  was  yet  in  its  cradle ;  whose 
kingdom  was  opulent  and  flourishing  when  Tyre 
fell,  and  the  temple  at  Jerusalem  was  burned ; 
who  was  a  contemporary  of  Daniel,  Ezekiel,  and 
Nebuchadnezzar. 

O  Sardis !  where  are  thy  kings,  and  thy  teem- 
ing hosts  ?     Where  are  the  sages  drawn  to  thy 


THE    EPISTLE    TO    SARDIS.  207 

court ;  where  the  wealthy  strangers  who  swelled 
thy  luxuries,  and  shared  thy  debaucheries; 
where  thy  purple-clad  princes  and  curious  ar- 
tificers, thy  tributary  troops,  and  thine  own 
Lydian  cavalry  that  wheeled  and  charged  so 
gallantly  on  the  plain  ?  0  Croesus !  thy  name 
long  the  proverb  of  wealth,  —  where  are  thy 
treasures  ?  Of  what  avail  were  the  millions 
sent  to  Grecian  oracles?  Thou  didst  cross  the 
Halys,  and  didst  indeed  ruin  a  great  empire. 
"  Howl,  0  gate  !  cry,  0  city ! "  "  Woe  to  her 
that  was  filthy  and  polluted,  to  the  oppressing 
city !  She  obeyed  not  the  voice ;  she  received 
not  correction;  she  trusted  not  in  the  Lord. 
Her  princes  within  her  were  roaring  lions;  her 
judges  evening  wolves."  "  Therefore  God  made 
of  a  city  a  heap;  of  a  defenced  city  a  ruin;  a 
palace  of  strangers  to  be  no  city."  The  Pac- 
tolus  has  ceased  to  bring  down  golden  sands ; 
the  stork  builds  her  nest  on  deserted  walls, 
and  the  black  tents  of  roving  Turcomans  alone 
are  seen  on  the  broad,  silent  plain. 

Sitting  amidst  the  ruins,  on  a  fallen,  but  once 
beautiful  column,  I  read  these  words :  "  And  unto 


208  MORNING   HOURS   IN  PATMOS. 

the  angel  of  the  church  in  Sardis  write :  These 
things  saith  he  that  hath  the  seven  spirits  of 
God^  and  the  seven  stars ;  I  know  thy  works, 
that  thou  hast  a  name  that  thou  hvest,  and  art 
dead.  Be  watchful,  and  strengthen  the  things 
which  remain,  that  are  ready  to  die :  for  I  have 
not  found  thy  works  perfect  before  God.  Ke- 
member  therefore  how  thou  hast  received  and 
heard,  and  hold  fast,  and  repent.  If,  therefore, 
thou  shalt  not  watch,  I  will  come  on  thee  as  a 
thief,  and  thou  shalt  not  know  what  hour  I  will 
come  upon  thee.  Thou  hast  a  few  names  even 
in  Sardis  which  have  not  defiled  their  garments ; 
and  they  shall  walk  with  me  in  white :  for  they 
are  worthy.  He  that  overcome th,  the  same  shall 
be  clothed  in  white  raiment ;  and  I  will  not  blot 
out  his  name  out  of  the  book  of  life,  but  I  will 
confess  his  name  before  my  Father,  and  before 
his  angels." 

SPIRITUAL   DEATH. 

When,  and  by  whom,  Christianity  was  planted 
at  Sardis,  we  know  not.  Of  the  church  gath- 
ered there  we  hear  nothing,  till  He  who  "  hath 


THE    EPISTLE    TO    SARDIS.  209 

the  seven  spirits  of  God,  and  the  seven  stars," 
bids  John  write  to  it  this  epistle.  It  is  the  su- 
preme Alpha  and  Omega  —  the  God  of  ministers 
and  churches,  sending  his  messengers,  now  scru- 
tinizing, and  ere  long  to  judge  them  —  who 
speaks  here. 

"  He  who  hath  the  seven  spirits  of  God,  and  the 
seven  stars  ;  I  know  thy  works,  that  thou  hast  a  name 
that  thou  livest,  and  art  dead." 

That  is,  the  Holy  Spirit  —  in  person  one,  in 
efficiency  manifold ;  He  to  whom  the  Spirit 
hath  been  given  not  by  measure  ;  who,  by  virtue 
of  his  mediatorial  prerogative,  sends  the  Spirit 
to  renew  and  educate  souls  for  heaven  —  now 
sends  a  message  to  Sardis.  Here  is  directness 
and  comparative  abruptness.  Other  epistles  have 
commenced  with  commendation ;  there  is  none 
for  this  church.  "  Art  dead  ! "  What  a  knell  is 
sounded  from  Patmos!  He  who  needeth  not 
that  any  should  testify  of  man,  whose  province 
it  is  to  give  life  to  as  many  as  he  will,  who  once 
said,  "  She  is  not  dead,  but  sleepeth,"  now  speaks 

to  the  Sardian  church :  "  Thou  hast  a  name  that 

18* 


% 


210  MORNING   HOURS   IN   PATMOS. 

thou  liveth,  and  art  dead."  Yes ;  she  that  liveth 
in  pleasure,  is  dead  while  she  liveth.  The  seduc- 
tions of  Satan,  the  lust  of  the  flesh,  the  lust  of 
the  eye,  and  the  pride  of  life,  have  eaten  out 
spirituality  at  Sardis.  Nothing  is  said  about  di- 
visions or  heresies;  not  a  word  about  Nicolai- 
tanes,  or  the  doctrine  of  Balaam.  For  aught 
that  appears,  the  ordinances  are  maintained; 
there  is  liberality,  and  courtesy,  and  refinement ; 
but  there  is  death.  Exact  they  may  be  in  forms, 
but  they  are  dead.  Their  meetings  are  cheer- 
less, their  prayers  lifeless.  Thej^  dare  not  offend 
cultivated  and  wealthy  neighbors,  by  making  a 
stand  on  principle.  They  have  kept  conform- 
ing and  conforming,  running  down  and  running 
down,  till  they  are  dead.  They  probably  thought 
Paul  very  strict,  and  that,  although  disciples  in 
Palestine  could  not  well  escape  persecution,  there 
was  no  need  of  it  in  a  place  of  so  much  urbanity 
as  Sardis;  that  as  they  were  charged  with  pre- 
ciseness  and  bigotry,  it  was  well  to  show  they 
knew  how  to  enjoy  life  as  well  as  others  —  qui- 
eting conscience  by  the  plea,  that  in  this  way 
they  hoped  to  win  over  many  to  their  ranks. 


THE    EPISTLE    TO    SARDIS.  211 

The  result  is,  they  have  themselves  become 
dead.  They  have  lost  all  spiritual  comfort,  all 
spiritual  power.  They  are  a  withered  branch, 
bearing  no  fruit,  ready  to  be  cut  off  and  cast 
into  the  fire. 

A  dead  professor,  one  spiritually  a  corpse,  what 
an  object!  We  have  seen  such  a  one.  He  lost 
his  hearing  first.  His  pastor  seemed  to  him  to  be 
growing  dull,  and  not  to  preach  half  so  well  as 
formerly.  There  was  no  music  in  the  praises  of 
the  sanctuary,  unless  performed  with  highest  ar- 
tistic excellence  ;  and  his  ears  waxed  heavier  and 
heavier,  till  he  ceased  to  catch  one  word  of  the 
still,  small  voice.  So  with  his  sight  and  taste  of 
things  spiritual ;  and  so  with  all  the  senses,  till 
nothing  but  faint  respiration  and  a  sluggish  circu- 
lation seemed  to  remain.  A  deadly  stupor  was 
stealing  over  him ;  and  finally  an  unseen  hand 
appeared  to  press  down  the  last  valve  of  life,  and 
he  is  dead.  Go  to  him  —  repeat  the  name  that 
is  above  every  name  in  his  ear —  does  it  awaken 
any  emotion  ?  Present  the  sacramental  bread  — 
does  he  discern  the  Lord's  body  ?  Let  an  angel 
bring  a  coal  from  off  the  altar  —  does  he  feel  any 


212  MORNING    HOURS    IN    P  ATM  OS. 

glow  ?  He  is  dead !  But  go  to  him  and  whis- 
per of  a  pleasure-party,  of  a  political  meeting, 
of  a  witty  lecturer,  of  a  splendid  bargain  to  be 
made,  and  he  is  on  his  feet ;  no  one  more  active 
than  he.  "  He  has  a  name  that  he  liveth."  Are 
there  not  at  the  present  time  many  such  living 
dead  men  —  many  whose  epitaphs  might  be 
written  to-day  ? 

VIGILANCE   ENJOINED. 

"  Be  watchful,  and  strengthen  the  things  which 
remain,  that  are  ready  to  die  ;  for  I  have  not  found 
thy  works  perfect  before  God.  Remember,  therefore, 
how  thou  hast  received  and  heard,  and  hold  fast,  and 
repent." 

The  majority,  but  not  all,  at  Sardis  are  dead. 
There  is  a  little  vitality  remaining ;  enough  re- 
liu^ious  consciousness  to  heed  an  alarm.  The 
plants  of  righteousness  are  dying  out ;  and  if  the 
little  life  that  is  left  be  not  fostered,  a  total 
extinction  of  the  church  must  ensue.  "Be 
watchful ) "  it  is  by  rernissness  in  covenant  en- 
gagements  to   one    another,   and    to    me   your 


THE    EPISTLE    TO    SARDIS.  213 

Redeemer,  by  remissness  in  private  duties  and 
public  deportment,  that  you  have  come  to  this 
criminal  and  most  deplorable  condition.  Be 
watchful,  then,  as  to  social  entanglements,  and  in 
business  transactions  ;  be  watchful  over  heart,  lip, 
and  life  ;  watchful  against  spiritual  torpor,  and  all 
the  depths  of  Satan.  Bethink  thee  of  the  grace 
bestowed  in  giving  thee  the  word  of  life,  and 
how  thine  ear  was  opened  to  hear  the  joyful 
sound  ;  bethink  thee  how  much  has  been  done 
for  Sardis,  and  that  the  little  thou  hast  is  of  more 
value  than  all  the  treasures  ever  accumulated  in 
the  city,  and  hold  fast.  If  there  be  any  author- 
ity in  my  name,  any  value  in  my  rewards,  hold 
fast,  and  repent.  Repent  of  backslidings  ;  repent 
of  present  decays  and  coldness ;  mourn  that  my 
cause  ever  made  so  little  progress,  and  has  been 
so  dishonored  in  Sardis;  and  turn,  turn  at  once 
unto  Me,  with  humiliation  and  weeping. 

THE    WARNING. 

"  If,  therefore,  thou  slialt  not  watch,  I  will  come  on 
thee  as  a  thief,  and  thou  slialt  not  know  what  hour  I 
will  come  upon  thee." 


214  MORNING    HOURS    IN   PATMOS. 

Before  his  ascension,  our  Lord  had  said, 
"  Watch,  therefore ;  for  ye  know  not  what  hour 
your  Lord  doth  come.  But  know  this,  that  if  the 
goodman  of  the  house  had  know^n  in  what  watch 
the  thief  would  come,  he  would  have  watched, 
and  would  not  have  suffered  his  house  to  be 
broken  up.  Therefore,  be  ye  also  ready ;  for  in 
such  an  hour  as  ye  think  not  the  Son  of  man 
cometb."  The  apostle  Peter  takes  up  the  figure: 
"  But  the  day  of  the  Lord  will  come  as  a  thief  in 
the  night;"  and  the  apostle  Paul  the  same  :  "For 
yourselves  know  perfectly  that  the  day  of  the 
Lord  so  Cometh  as  a  thief  in  the  night.  For 
when  they  shall  say.  Peace  and  safet}^,  then  sud- 
den destruction  cometh  upon  them.  Therefore, 
let  us  not  sleep,  as  do  others ;  but  let  us  watch 
and  be  sober." 

As  the  Persian,  at  a  time,  by  a  way,  and  in  a 
manner  not  thought  of,  scaled  the  castle  of  Sar- 
dis,  so  will  the  coining  of  the  Son  of  man  be  to 
the  church  of  Sardis,  if  they  be  not  "watchful, 
and  strengthen  the  things  which  remain,  and  that 
are  ready  to  die." 

So,  too,  will  be  his  coming  at  the  end  of  the 


THE    EPISTLE    TO    SARDIS.  215 

world,  an  advent  of  alarm  and  confusion  of  face 
to  all  slumbering  virgins,  whose  lamps  are  gone 
out,  and  who  are  destitute  of  oil  to  fill  them. 
"  Behold,  I  come  as  a  thief,"  he  reiterates ;  "  Bles- 
sed is  he  that  watcheth,  and  keepeth  his  gar- 
ments." 

COMPANIONSHIP    WITH   CHRIST. 

"  Thoii  hast  a  few  names  even  in  Sardis,  which 
have '  not  defiled  their  garments ;  and  they  shall  walk 
with  me  in  white  ;  for  they  are  worthy." 

By  "  names,"  we  are  to  understand  persons ; 
as  in  the  first  chapter  of  Acts :  "  And  in  those 
days  Peter  stood  up  in  the  midst  of  the  disciples, 
and  said  (the  number  of  names  together  were 
about  one  hundred  and  twenty.") 

"  Thou  hast  a  few  names  even  in  Sardis,"  — 
even  in  luxurious,  dissolute  Sardis,  for  centuries 
proverbial  as  a  city  of  effeminacy,  where  the 
stream  of  life  flows  on  with  the  accumulated  in- 
fections of  ages,  and  where  all  associations  and 
traditional  influences  tend  to  unnerve  and  de- 
bauch, —  even  in  Sardis  hast  thou  a  few  names 


216  MORNING   HOURS   IN  PATMOS. 

which  have  not  defiled  their  garments.  They 
have  kept  themselves  unspotted  from  the  world, 
and  great  shall  be  their  reward  in  heaven ; 
'-  They  shall  walk  with  me  in  white,  for  they 
are  worthy." 

Take  heart,  ye  faithful  few  in  Sardis  !  ye  are 
not  overlooked  by  your  Lord.  He  launches  a 
merited  threatening  against  the  church  as  a 
whole,  but  is  at  the  same  time  tenderly  mindful 
of  his  true  disciples.  Not  that  they  deserve  this 
by  their  good  deeds,  yet  are  they  —  by  union  to 
their  Lord,  and  not  having  with  the  rest  sunk 
into  spiritual  death  —  fitted  and  appointed  for 
the  rewards  of  heaven.  It  is  in  the  blood  of  the 
Lamb  that  they  have  washed  their  robes  and 
made  them  white. 

"  And  they  shall  walk  with  me  in  white,"  — -  in 
white,  the  emblem  of  purity  and  joy.  What  a 
blessed  promise  !  The  priests  and  Levites,  when 
they  ministered  before  the  Lord  were  clothed  in 
white ;  we  are  made  kings  and  priests  unto  God 
and  his  Father.  All  the  fiiithful  in  Christ  Jesus 
belong  to  that  church  which  he  loves^  and  for 
which  he  gave  himself,  that  he  might  sanctify 


THE   EPISTLE    TO    SARDIS.  217 

and  cleanse  it  with  the  washing  of  water  by  the 
word,  that  he  might  present  it  to  himself  a  glo- 
rious church,  not  having  spot  or  wrinkle,  or  any 
such  thing,  but  that  it  should  be  holy  and  with- 
out blemish.  "  To  the  bride,  the  Lamb's  wife,  is 
it  granted  that  she  should  be  arrayed  in  fine 
linen,  clean  and  white  ;  for  the  fine  linen  is  the 
righteousness  of  saints." 

There  is  nothing  to  soil  those  pure  and  spotless 
robes.  They  will  remain  untarnished,  yea  more 
and  more  resplendent,  for  ever  and  ever.  Such  is 
the  livery  of  heaven,  and  thus  are  saints  clad  ap- 
propriately for  the  presence  of  Him'  with  whom 
they  are  to  walk.  When,  on  the  mount,  he  was 
transfigured  into  a  temporary  and  partial  antici- 
pation of  his  glorified  form,  "  His  face  did  shine 
as  the  sun,  and  his  raiment  was  white  as  the 
Hght." 

Was  it  ever  your  privilege  to  walk  familiarly 
with  a  person  of  high  distinction,  a  nobleman,  it 
may  be  ?  As  he  took  you  leisurely  through  his 
ample  grounds,  with  here  a  wide-spreading  elm 
and  there  a  tuft  of  evergreens,  now  by  a  foun- 
tain and  now  to  a  hill-top,  a  velvet  lawn  stretch- 

19 


218  MORNING   HOURS    IN   PATMOS. 

ing  far  on  the  one  side,  and  a  charming  grove  on 
the  other — did  he  converse  in  the  freest  manner, 
and  make  you  feel  perfectly  at  home  with  him  ? 
And  were  those  among  the  most  favored  hours 
of  your  life,  and  has  character,  or  at  least  the 
course  of  thought,  taken  a  decided  direction  from 
that  interview  ?  The  Lord  of  glory  makes  the 
believing  wayfarers  welcome  to  his  broad  pleas- 
ure-grounds, and  they  shall  walk  with  him  — 
walk  with  him  along  the  shaded  avenues,  and 
amidst  the  enchanting  bowers  of  Paradise,  where 
amaranths  and  all  things  beautiful  greet  the 
eye ;  where  the  rose  of  Sharon  and  the  lily  of 
the  valley  shed  their  fragrance  :  shall  walk  with 
him  along  the  banks  of  the  river  of  life,  and 
beneath  the  tree  of  life,  in  high  and  leisurely  fel- 
lowship. That  is  a  walk  with  royalty ;  unabashed, 
with  profound  admiration,  and  with  a  ceaseless 
elevating  and  assimilating  power  will  the  quiet, 
sublime  converse  go  on  through  everlasting  ages. 
Christ's  presence  will  shed  divine  beauty  and 
lustre  on  every  object. 


THE   EPISTLE   TO    SARDIS.  219 

THE   PRESENTATION  IN   GLORY. 

"  And  I  will  not  blot  out  his  name  out  of  the 
book  of  life,  but  I  will  confess  his  name  before  my 
Father,  and  before  his  angels."  ' 

■The  Book  of  Life  —  what  a  volume  that  must 
be  !  How  vast,  how  ponderous !  None  but  a 
divine  hand  may  turn  its  leaves.  How  fair, 
how  resplendent  the  pages  of  that  great  Register 
for  New  Jerusalem,  wherein  names  were  written 
from  the  foundation  of  the  world;  wherein  is 
reference  to  all  the  mansions  prepared  before  the 
foundation  of  the  world  !  In  it  are  no  erasures, 
no  doubtful  entries.  By  deaths,  by  removals,  by 
excommunication,  our  catalogues  are  constantly 
changing ;  but  in  the  Lamb's  book  of  life  are  no 
alterations,  except,  perhaps,  as  the  saints  one 
after  another  fall  asleep  in  Jesus,  the  recording 
angel  may  write  against  the  name,  "Reached 
home  to-day  in  safety." 

Each  of  the  names  in  that  company  which  no 
man  can  number,  will  Christ  confess  before  his 
Father  and  before  his  angels.  There  is  ere  long 
to  be  a  grand  review  of  the  great  army  in  the 


220  MORNING  HOURS   IN  PATMOS. 

presence  of  the  King  of  kings,  and  of  the  elect 
angels.  There  will  be  a  distribution  of  honors 
then.  A  great  cloud  of  ancient  witnesses,  from 
righteous  Abel  onwards,  having  waxed  valiant  in 
fight,  and  obtained  a  good  report  through  faith, 
will  pass  under  the  approving  eye  of  the  Lord 
of  Sabaoth.  So,  too,  the  early  Christians  and 
martyrs,  each  band  with  its  standard-bearer 
whose  dying  testimony  on  the  field  of  battle 
was,  "  I  have  fought  a  good  fight,  I  have  finished 
my  course,  I  have  kept  the  faith." 

As  the  heroes  and  the  hosts  of  each  century, 
all  clothed  in  white,  all  having  crowns  and  harps 
of  gold,  move  in  their  shining  ranks  with  sol- 
emn step  before  the  throne.  He  who  hath  the 
seven  stars  in  his  right  hand,  whose  countenance 
is  as  the  sun  shining  in  his  strength,  and  his  voice 
as  the  sound  of  many  waters,  will  pronounce 
every  name  before  the  Father,  and  before  his 
angels ;  and  to  the  whole  collective  multitude 
will  say.  Well  done,  good  and  faithful  servants ; 
enter  ye  into  the  joy  of  your  Lord !  What  a 
shout  of  rapturous  jubilee  will  go  up  to  Him 
that  sitteth  on  the  throne,  and  unto  the  Lamb 


THE    EPISTLE    TO    SARDIS.  221 

for  ever  and  ever !  How  will  they  cast  their 
crowns  at  his  feet !  How  will  they  harp  upon 
their  harps,  "  Worthy  is  the  Lamb  that  was  slain 
to  receive  power,  and  riches,  and  wisdom,  and 
strength,  and  honor,  and  glory,  and  blessing ! " 
"  He  that  hath  an  ear  to  hear,  let  him  hear  what 

the  Spirit  saith  unto  the  churches." 

19* 


TEE  EPISTLE    TO   PHILADELPHIA. 

And  to  the  angel  of  the  church  in  Philadelphia 
write  :  These  things  saith  he  that  is  holy,  he  that  is 
true,  he  that  hath  the  key  of  David  ;  he  that  openeth, 
and  no  man  shutteth ;  and  shutteth,  and  no  man 
openeth  :  I  know  thy  works ;  behold,  I  have  set  before 
thee  an  open  door,  and  no  man  can  shut  it ;  for  thou 
hast  a  little  strength,  and  hast  kept  my  word,  and  hast 
not  denied  my  name.  Behold,  I  will  make  them  of  the 
synagogue  of  Satan,  which  say  they  are  Jews,  and  are 
not,  but  do  lie ;  behold,  I  will  make  them  to  come  and 
worship  before  thy  feet,  and  to  know  that  I  have  loved 
thee.  Because  thou  hast  kept  the  word  of  my  patience, 
I  also  will  keep  thee  from  the  hour  of  temptation, 
which  shall  come  upon  all  the  world,  to  try  them  that 
dwell  upon  the  earth.  Behold,  I  come  quickly ;  hold 
fast  that  which  thou  hast,  that  no  man  take  tliy  crown. 
Him  that  overcometh,  will  I  make  a  pillar  in  the  temple 
of  my  God,  and  he  shall  go  no  more  out ;  and  I  will 


THE   EPISTLE   TO    PHILADELPHIA.  223 

write  upon  him  the  name  of  my  God,  and  the  name  of 
the  city  of  my  God,  which  is  New  Jerusalem,  which 
Cometh  down  out  of  heaven  from  my  God  ;  and  I  will 
write  upon  him  my  new  name.  He  that  hath  an  ear, 
let  him  hear  what  the  Spirit  saith  unto  the  churches. 
Rev.  3  :  7—13. 

philadelphia. 

There  is  little  of  the  ancient  city  of  Philadel- 
phia now  remaining.  The  modern  town  bears 
the  imposing  name  of  Allah  Sheher,  City  of  God, 
andj  like  the  one  which  by  divine  appointment 
was  so  called,  is  "  beautiful  for  situation ; "  but 
otherwise  presents  little  to  attract  the  tourist. 
Portions  of  the  old  walls  remain  upright ;  im- 
mense fragments  of  buildings,  huge  square  stone 
pillars,  supporting  brick  arches,  are  also  stand- 
ing, and  are  called  the  ruins  of  an  ancient 
church. 

From  the  Acropolis  there  is  a  magnificent 
view,  diversified  by  gardens,  vineyards,  and  fields 
of  luxuriant  poppies,  white,  lilac  and  purple, 
which  present  a  rich  and  beautiful  appearance. 
Looking  down  immediately  upon  the  walls  and 


224  MORNING   HOURS    IN   PATMOS. 

roofs,  you  see  the  stately  stork,  and  the  turtle- 
clove,  whose  tender  affection  is  still  a  symbol 
of  brotherly  love,  and  recall  to  your  mind  the 
signification  of  the  ancient  name,  Philadelphia. 

CHARACTERISTICS    OF    THE   SPEAKER. 

"  These  things  saith  he  that  is  holy,  he  that  is  true, 
he  that  hath  the  key  of  David ;  he  that  openeth, 
and  no  man  shutteth ;  and  shutteth,  and  no  man 
openeth.'' 

All  the  elements  that  can  command  deepest 
respect  —  perfect  purity,  perfect  veracity,  and 
supreme  authority  —  meet  in  him.  The  whole 
drapery  of  the  vision,  as  presented  in  the  first 
chapter,  is  symbolic  of  those  qualities. 

"  These  things  saith  he  that  is  holy."  It  was 
his  glory  that  Isaiah  saw,  and  of  him  that  he 
spake,  when  he  had  the  vision  of  the  enthroned 
King,  and  the  adoring  Seraphim,  who  cried  one 
unto  another,  "  Holy,  holy,  holy  is  the  Lord  of 
hosts."  And  with  what  profound  reverence  do 
the  victorious  hosts  "  sing  the  song  of  Moses,  the 
servant  of  God,  and  the  song  of  the  Lamb,  sav- 


THE    EPISTLE    TO    PHILADELPHIA.  225 

ing,  Thou  only  art  holy!"  Who  shall  not  fear 
him  ?  What  earthly  potentate  shall  be  named 
when  we  speak  of  him  ? 

"These  things  saith  he  that  is  true."  When 
"  the  Word  was  made  flesh,  and  dwelt  among  us, 
and  we  beheld  his  glory,  it  was  the  glory  as 
of  the  only  begotten  of  the  Father,  full  of  grace 
and  truth."  He  himself  proclaimed,  I  am  the 
truth  ;  and  his  disciples  are  able  to  respond,  "  We 
know  that  the  Son  of  God  is  come,  and  hath 
given  us  an  understanding  that  we  may  know 
him  that  is  true  ;  and  we  are  in  him  that  is  true, 
even  in  his  Son  Jesus  Christ :  this  is  the  true 
God,  and  eternal  life."  Not  only  is  he  truthful 
and  trustworthy  as  man,  but  he  is  the  true  Mes- 
siah. For  this  purpose  came  he  into  the  world, 
that  he  might  bear  witness  to  the  truth,  in  its 
highest  forms.  As  opposed  to  all  false  gods,  and 
all  refuges  of  lies  for  salvation,  as  the  great  an- 
tagonist of  the  father  of  lies,  and  of  all  human 
deceit  and  perversity,  he  came  the  divine  em- 
bodiment, the  appointed  revealer  of  everlasting 
truth.  And  now  that  he  is  enthroned  amidst  the 
radiance    of   celestial    verities,   how   should    his 


226  MORNING  HOURS   IN    PATMOS. 

message  be  heeded  by  us  who  still  tabernacle 
where  vain  show,  hypocrisies,  and  treacheries 
have  their  home  ? 

"  These  things  saith  he  that  hath  the  key  of 
David ;  he  that  openeth,  and  no  man  shutteth ; 
and  shutteth,  and  no  man  openeth,"  He  hath  the 
regal  key,  the  key  to  that  kingdom  on  the 
throne  of  which  sits  David's  greater  Son  accord- 
ing to  the  flesh,  —  sits  as  the  Prince  of  the  kings 
of  the  earth,  girded  with  all  power  in  heaven  and 
in  earth. 

All  the  avenues  of  earth,  and  from  earth  to 
other  worlds,  are  under  his  control.  He  openeth 
the  eyes,  ears,  and  hearts  of  men.  He  openeth 
the  doors  of  providence,  the  ways  of  deliverance 
from  danger,  temptation  and  destruction,  for  his 
people.  He  openeth  the  doors  of  opportunity 
for  usefulness,  yea,  for  eflective  obedience  to  his 
command,  to  evangelize  all  nations, — a  great  door 
and  effectual  being  opened  to  his  preachers, — the 
Sublime  Porte,  for  instance,  at  the  present  time, 
and  the  Flowery  Kingdom,  and  the  island-world 
eastward  of  Asia,  hitherto  closed  to  the  truth. 
In  his  own  time  will  he  open  the  graves  of  all  his 


THE    EPISTLE    TO    PHILADELPHIA.  227 

saints,  and  call  them  forth  in  their  immortal 
resurrection  bodies. 

He,  too,  shutteth.  He  shut  the  gate  of  ter- 
restrial Paradise,  guarding  it  with  a  flaming 
sword ;  he  shut  up  the  door  of  the  Ark,  for  pro- 
tection to  its  inmates,  and  for  a  bar  to  those  who 
afterwards  would  fain  have  entered.  How  often 
has  he  shut  the  mouths  of  lions,  and  shut  up  the 
sea  with  gates !  And  the  lioLir  cometli  when  He 
who  holds  the  keys  of  death  and  of  Hades  will 
close  forever  the  door  of  the  prison-house  upon 
the  devil  and  his  angels,  and  all  the  finally 
impenitent. 

What  hand  ever  reversed  a  bolt  turned  by 
that  key  ?  What  combination  of  human  skill 
and  strength  ever  closed  one  entrance,  or  opened 
one  closed  door,  on  which  was  the  hand  of  the 
Lord  Jesus  ?  Pilate  had  no  power  except  what 
was  given  him.  The  Emperor  Domitian  had 
power  only  for  a  brief  period,  and  over  a  small 
portion  of  the  earth's  surface.  Whatsoever  the 
Lord  pleaseth,  that  doth  he  in  heaven,  and  in 
earth,  in  the  seas,  and  in  the  deep  places.  Yes ; 
he  that  is  holy,  he  that  is  true,  he  that  hath  the 


228  MORNING    IIOUPwS    IN    PATMOS. 

key  of  David,  doing  according  to  his  will  in  all 
worlds,  through  all  ages  to  come,  is  the  one  who 
sends  a  message  to  the  angel  of  the  church  in 
Philadelphia. 

FIDELITY  REWARDED. 

"  I  know  thy  works ;  behold,  I  have  set  before  thee 
an  open  door,  and  no  man  can  shut  it ;  for  thou  hast 
a  little  strength,  and  hast  kept  my  word,  and  hast 
not  denied  my  name." 

Not  the  smallest  degree  of  fidelity  is  unnoticed 
or  forgotten  by  the  Lord.  Though  his  be  the 
sharp  sword  with  two  edges,  and  his  the  eyes 
that  are  as  a  flame  of  fire,  and  his  voice  as 
the  sound  of  many  waters,  yet  does  he  kindly 
mark  and  graciously  reward  every  item  of  faith- 
fulness on  the  part  of  his  people.  Though  pos- 
sessing but  a  little  strength,  believers  at  Philadel- 
phia find  that  little  recognized.  The  church  at 
Smyrna  received  no  censure ;  and  this  is  the 
only  other  one  of  the  seven  similarly  honored. 
There  is  allegiance  here  ;  they  have  kept  Christ's 
word,    and    have    not   denied    him,   and    hence 


THE    EPISTLE    TO    PHILADELPHIA.  229 

receive  commendation,  and  tlie  assurance  of 
divine  intervention  in  their  behalf.  "  Behold,  I 
have  set  before  thee  an  open  door,  and  no  man 
can  shut  it;"  an  open  door  for  testifying  to  the 
truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus ;  such  as  Paul  had  found,  a 
little  to  the  north  of  them,  in  Troas,  where  a  door 
was  opened  unto  him  of  the  Lord.  They  were 
not  to  be  hampered  by  Jewish  exclusiveness,  nor 
cast  into  prison,  or  otherwise  forcibly  hindered 
from  bearing  witness  to  the  truth  and  grace  of 
God.  They  would  also  find  an  open  door  of 
escape  from  the  machinations  of  their  enemies. 
And  before  them  stands  an  open  door,  to  all  the 
interior  privileges  of  the  kingdom.  No  fee  is 
exacted,  and  no  entrance  difiicult  to  find  intro- 
duces to  its  enchanting  entertainments.  On  the 
lofty  and  beautiful  arch  beneath  which  they  pass, 
is  inscribed.  Free  grace.  Keaching  at  length  the 
city  of  their  destination,  they  find  "the  gates 
of  it  shall  not  be  shut  at  all  by  day,  and  there 
shall  be  no  night  there." 

Disciple   of    the   Lord !    be   not    discouraged, 
though  you  have  but  little  faith  ;  it  is  a  great 

thing  to  have  that  little.     Genuineness  does  not 

20 


230  MORNING   HOURS   IN   PATMOS. 

depend  upon  amount.  Keeping  Christ's  word, 
you  will  presently  hear  the  plaudit,  "  Well  done 
good  and  faithful  servant ;  thou  hast  been  faith- 
ful over  a  few  things,  I  will  make  thee  ruler  over 
many  things ;  enter  thou  into  the  joy  of  thy 
Lord."  There  stands  before  you  an  open  door 
from  this  period  in  your  pilgrimage  onward,  till 
3^our  feet  are  fairly  within  some  one  of  the 
twelve  gates  of  pearl,  and  "  no  man  can  shut  it." 

THE   DOOM    OF   HYPOCRITES. 

"  Behold,  I  will  make  them  of  the  synagogue  of 
Satan,  which  say  they  are  Jews,  and  are  not,  but  do 
lie ;  behold,  I  will  make  them  to  come  and  worship 
before  thy  feet,  and  to  know  that  I  have  loved  thee." 

There  is  ample  evidence  that  the  early  Chris- 
tians suffered  greatly  from  the  malice  of  Jews. 
Thus  at  Antioch,  "  When  the  Jews  saw  the  multi- 
tudes, they  were  filled  with  envy,  and  spake 
against  those  things  which  are  spoken  by  Paul, 
contradicting  and  blaspheming ; "  and  "  The  Jews 
stirred  up  the  devout  and  honorable  women,  and 
the  chief  men  of  the  city,  and  raised  persecution 


THE    EPISTLE    TO    PH  IL  ADE  LI^  H  I A  .  231 

againsi?  Paul  and  Barnabas,  and  expelled  them 
out  of  their  coasts."  There  had  been  similar 
demonstrations  at  Thessalonica,  and  similar  too, 
probably,  at  Philadelphia ;  while  those  engaged 
in  such  violent  proceedings  would  claim,  in  the 
blindness  of  their  bigotry,  to  be  doing  God  ser- 
vice, as  his  chosen  synagogue.  But  all  are  not 
Israel  that  are  of  Israel,  and  these  lying  Jews 
will  the  Lord  put  down  as  the  synagogue  of 
Satan ;  yea  more,  he  will  reduce  them  to  a  hu- 
miliating deference  to  his  faithful  ones  in  that 
city. 

The  time  and  mode  of  fulfilment,  we  know 
not ;  but  the  fulfilment  came  ;  and  it  was  only 
one  of  the  many  instances  of  retribution  which 
He  who  loves  and  leads  his  own  people  is  often 
bringing  about  —  mere  earnests  of  what  will  be 
witnessed  when  "  the  sons  also  of  them  that 
afilicted  thee  shall  come  bending  unto  thee ;  and 
all  they  that  despised  thee  shall  bow  themselves 
down  at  the  soles  of  thy  feet ;  and  they  shall  call 
thee.  The  city  of  the  Lord,  The  Zion  of  the  Holy 
One  of  Israel." 


232  MORNING   HOURS   IN  PATMOS. 

DELIVERANCE    CERTAIN  AND   NEAR.* 

"  Because  thou  hast  kept  the  word  of  my  patience, 
I  also  will  keep  thee  from  the  hour  of  temptation, 
which  shall  come  upon  all  the  world,  to  try  them  that 
dwell  upon  the  earth." 

The  gospel  largely  illustrates  the  long-suffering 
of  Christ,  and  enforces  the  same  virtue  upon  his 
followers.  They  that  received  seed  on  good 
ground  are  declared  in  the  parable  to  be  those 
who  "  in  an  honest  and  good  heart,  having  heard 
the  word,  keep  it,  and  bring  forth  fruit  with 
patience."  "  In  patience  possess  ye  your  souls," 
is  Christ's  bidding ;  whilst  they  only  who  "  en- 
dure unto  the  end  shall  be  saved." 

A  pledge  of  deliverance  accompanies  the  ac- 
knowledgment. Without  pronouncing  positively 
upon  the  period  of  accomplishment,  it  should  be 
stated  as  a  noteworthy  fact,  that  Philadelphia, 
though  only  about  twenty-five  miles  east  of  Sar- 
dis,  escaped  wonderfully  the  sacking  by  Eoman 
armies  which  the  other  six  cities  experienced ;  nor 
w^as  it  captured  by  the  Turks  till  a  century  before 
Columbus  discovered  this  New  World.     Even  the 


THE    EPISTLE    TO    PHILADELPHIA.  233 

infidel  Gibbon  bears  unintended  testimony  to  the 
faithfulness  of  Him  who  cannot  lie.  "  At  a  dis- 
tance from  the  sea,"  he  remarks,  "  forgotten  by 
the  emperor,  encompassed  on  all  sides  by  the 
Turks,  her  valiant  citizens  defended  their  religion 
and  freedom  above  four-score  years,  and  at  length 
capitulated  with  the  proudest  of  the  Ottomans,  in 
1390.  Among  the  Greek  colonies  and  churches 
of  Asia,  Philadelphia  is  still  erect  —  a  column  in 
a  scene  of  ruins." 

"  Behold,  I  come  quickly  :  hold  that  fast  which  thou 
hast,  that  no  man  take  thy  crown."  ■ 

This  patient  waiting,  this  watch  and  struggle, 
will  not  last  always.  Events  hasten  to  their  ac- 
complishment. Individual  life  runs  on  apace ; 
and  the  end  of  all  things,  too,  is  at  hand.  Hold 
fast,  then,  for  it  is  only  a  short  time  that  you 
have  to  hold  at  all.  Hold  fast  to  your  profession 
of  faith,  to  your  Scripture  doctrines  and  ordi- 
nances, vilified  though  they  may  be  ;  hold  fist  to 
your  cross-bearing,  and  adherence  to  Christ's  pre- 
cepts and  examples,  amidst  surrounding  declen- 
sion ;    lest  thou  fail  of  thine  award   of  victory, 

20* 


234  MORNING   HOURS    IN   PATMOS. 

hold  fast.     It  is  for  a  little  while  :   "  Behold  I 
come  quickly." 

In  the  future  review,  how  short  will  the 
struggle  seem!  How  faint,  in  after-years,  the 
recollection  of  perils  and  discomforts  experi- 
enced during  a  voyage  !  Who  would  not  renew 
the  purpose  and  effort  to  hold  fast  to  secret 
prayer,  to  circumspect  living,  to  active  benev- 
olence, and  so  fail  not  of  the  crown?  Before 
we  know  it,  Christ  will  be  here,  and  the  victory 
won. 

THE    VICTOR   REWARDED. 

"  Him  that  overcometh,  I  will  make  a  pillar  in  the 
temple  of  my  God,  and  he  shall  go  no  more  out." 

There  is  something  more  specific  than  a 
general  intimation  of  deliverance  from  pending 
dangers,  and  of  an  open  door  into  a  place  of 
security  and  triumph.  There  is  here  presented 
to  the  view  of  Philadelphian  saints,  and  of 
believers  to-day,  a  vista  most  attractive  and 
animating. 

Let   the   eye    be    raised    to    Mount   Zion,   a 


THE    EPISTLE    TO    PHILADELPHIA.  235 

mountain  lofty,  broad  and  beautiful,  as  is  no 
terrestrial  height,  surmounted  by  the  temple 
of  God.  How  insignificant  are  all  edifices  of 
earth  —  St.  Paul's,  St.  Peter's,  the  Duomo  of 
Milan,  or  Solomon's  temple,  in  comparison !  It 
stretches  far  away,  for  many  a  furlong ;  it  tow- 
ers story  above  story,  hundreds  of  cubits,  ac- 
cording to  the  measure  of  the  angel.  The 
light  thereof  is  like  unto  a  stone  most  precious, 
even  like  a  jasper-stone,  clear  as  crystal.  The 
wall  thereof  hath  twelve  foundations,  and  in 
them  the  names  of  the  twelve  apostles  of  the 
Lamb.  That  magnificent,  glorious  edifice  is 
built  up  of  lively  stones  quarried  here.  As  the 
several  States  of  our  confederacy,  and  many 
cities  and  foreign  States  too,  send  their  tribu- 
tary blocks  to  the  monument  now  rising  at  the 
seat  of  our  national  government  to  the  Father 
of  his  Country,  so  does  that  structure  at  the 
metropolis  of  the  Great  King,  draw  its  mate- 
rials from  every  land  and  city  and  neighborhood 
of  earth.  How  symmetrically  does  it  rise ! 
With  what  strange  beauty  do  materials,  so  di- 
verse   here,  blend    in    their    appropriate    places, 


236  MORNING   HOURS    IN    PATMOS. 

under  the  hand  of  the  all-wise  Architect,  every 
one  of  them  polished  after  the  similitude  of  a 
palace ! 

Perhaps  the  most  impressive  edifice  now 
standing  is  the  Cathedral  of  St.  Marks,  at 
Venice.  In  its  decoration,  without  and  within, 
five  hundred  pillars  are  employed,  which  were 
brought  chiefly  from  Greece  and  the  Levant, 
many  of  them  bearing  Armenian,  Syrian,  or 
other  inscriptions.  While  in  progress,  every 
vessel  that  sailed  from  Venice  for  the  East 
was  obliged  to  bring  back  pillars  or  materials 
of  some  kind  for  that  stupendous  work.  What 
columns  of  Verd-antique,  and  porphyry,  and  ser- 
pentine meet  the  eye !  What  a  pavement  of 
tesselated  marble !  What  a  magnificent  vault- 
ing, with  mosaics  in  golden  grounds !  What 
strange  variety  of  richest  and  rarest  marbles, 
oriental  alabaster  and  other  stones,  some  al- 
most transparent,  the  light  of  a  taper  shining 
through !  That  unique  edifice  is  made  up  of 
the  rarest  spoils,  purchases,  and  contributions 
of  the  civilized  world,  so  far  as  known  when  it 
was  erected.     Yet  it  shows  signs  of  age.     There 


THE    EPISTLE    TO    PHILADELPHIA.  237 

are  rents,  indicating  that  it  is  not  founded  on 
a  rock.  It  is  a  dingy  and  gloomy  pile.  But 
the  temple  of  our  God  stands  on  the  chief 
Corner-stone.  Its  gold  and  pearls  do  not  tar- 
nish. Its  sapphires,  amethysts,  and  emeralds, 
never  lose  their  lustre. 

Him  that  overcometh  will  I  make  "a  pillar 
in  the  temple  of  my  God,  and  he  shall  go  no 
more  out."  Earth  is  covered  with  fallen  me- 
morials of  magnificence.  In  its  older  regions, 
you  stumble  upon  their  fragments  everywhere. 
At  almost  any  point  on  the  coast  of  the  Med- 
iterranean, as  you  leap  ashore,  you  step  upon 
prostrate  columns.  They  strew  the  mountain 
sides ;  they  lie  buried  in  the  sands  of  the  desert. 
But  will  earthquakes  ever  displace  those  pillars 
in  the  temple  of  our  God  ?  Will  the  lightning 
rend  them?  Will  engines  of  war  disfigure 
them?  No  pressure,  no  heat,  no  frosts,  no  ar- 
tillery, will  ever  warp  or  discolor,  or  cause  a 
flaw  to  appear  in  one  of  them.  There  is  no 
leaning  tower,  no  rubbish-heap  in  New  Jerusa- 
lem.    ^^Walk   about  Zion,  and  go  round  about 


238  MORNING   HOURS   IN   PAT  M  OS. 

her;    tell    the   towers    thereof.     Mark    ye   her 
bulwarks;    consider  her  palaces." 

THE   NEW  NAME. 

"  And  I  will  write  upon  him  the  name  of  my  God, 
and  the  name  of  the  city  of  my  God,  which  is  New 
Jerusalem,  which  cometh  down  out  of  heaven  from 
my  God ;  and  I  will  write  upon  him  my  new  name." 

How  honored,  how  resplendent  each  one  in 
the  temple !  The  name  of  my  God,  and  the 
name  of  the  city  of  my  God ;  and  my  new 
name,  —  not  the  former  name  of  Lamb  of  God, 
that  su2f«:ested  sufferino:  and  humiliation,  but 
the  new  one  of  triumph  and  everlasting  do- 
minion, —  "  King  of  kings,  and  Lord  of  lords ! " 

Was  it  an  honor  to  wear  the  insignia  of  Na- 
poleon's Old  Guard,  or  Cassar's  Tenth  Legion  ? 
Is  it  grateful  to  surviving  officers  of  the  Cri- 
mean campaign  to  wear  medals  with  conspic- 
uous inscriptions,  "Inkermann,"  "Balaklava"? 
And  will  it  be  no  honor  to  wear  such  names 
as  are  written  hy  Christ's  own  hand  in  heaven  ? 

Those  who  have  visited  the   French   capital, 


THE  EPISTLE    TO    PHILADELPHIA.  239 

never  forget  the  triumphal  pillar  in  the  Place 
Yendome,  with  its  spiral  band  of  bas-reliefs, 
more  than  eight  hundred  feet  in  length,  pre- 
senting two  thousand  human  figures,  and  exhib- 
iting in  chronological  order  the  principal  events 
in  the  famous  campaign  of  1805,  from  the  de- 
parture of  the  troops  from  Boulogne  to  the 
achievements  of  Austerlitz. 

It  pleases  the  Great  Captain  of  our  salvation 
to  have  the  heroism  of  the  church  militant 
commemorated  at  his  capital.  Each  individual 
campaign,  with  all  its  victories  over  internal  en- 
emies, and  the  hosts  of  darkness,  and  the  general 
warfare,  wherein  all  bear  arms,  are  to  be  de- 
picted and  immortalized.  There  will  be  seen 
the  spiritual  heroes  "  who  through  faith  sub- 
dued kingdoms,  wrought  righteousness,  obtained 
promises,  stopped  the  mouths  of  lions,  quenched 
the  violence  of  fire,  escaped  the  edge  of  the 
sword,  out  of  weakness  were  made  strong, 
waxed  valiant  in  fight,  turned  to  flight  the 
armies  of  the  aliens."  There  will  be  the  great 
battles  with  Judaism,  Heathenism,  and  Moham- 
medanism.    There  Athanasius  will  lead  forth  his 


240  MORNING   HOURS    IN   PATMOS. 

band  against  Arianism.  The  great  generals  of 
the  sixteenth  and  of  later  centuries  will  put  to 
flight  the  Man  of  Sin;  and  many  a  hero  will 
stand  forth  as  champion  for  Truth  against  So- 
cinianism,  Universalism^  Infidelity,  and  Formal- 
ity. "He  that  hath  an  ear,  let  him  hear  what 
the  Spirit  saith  unto  the  churches" 


THE  EPISTLE    TO   LAODICEA. 

And  unto  the  angel  of  the  church  of  the  Laodi- 

ceans  write  :  These  things  saith  the  Amen,  the  faithful 

and  true  Witness,  the  beginning  of  the   creation  of 

God ;  I  know  thy  works,  that  thou  art  neither  cold 

nor  hot;  I  would  thou  wert  cold  or  hot.     So,  then, 

because  thou  art  lukewarm,  and  neither  cold  nor  hot, 

I  will  spue  thee  out  of  my  mouth.      Because  thou 

sayest,  I  am  rich,  and  increased  with  goods,  and  have 

need   of    nothing ;    and    knowest   not   that    thou    art 

wretched,   and   miserable,  and   poor,  and   blind,  and 

naked:    I  counsel  thee  to  buy  of   me  gold  tried  in 

the  fire,  that  thou  mayest  be  rich ;  and  white  raiment, 

that  thou  mayest  be  clothed,  and  that  the  shame  of 

thy  nakedness  do  not  appear ;  and  anoint  thine  eyes 

with  eye-salve,  that  thou  mayest  see.     As  many  as  I 

love,  I  rebuke  and  chasten  ;  be  zealous,  therefore,  and 

repent.     Behold,  I  stand  at  the  door  and  knock ;   if 

any  man  hear  my  voice,  and  open  the    door,  I  will 

21 


242  MORNING   HOURS    IN   PATMOS. 

come  ill  to  him,  and  will  sup  with  him,  and  he  with 
me.  To  him  that  overcometh,  will- 1  grant  to  sit  with 
me  in  my  throne,  even  as  I  also  overcame,  and  am 
set  down  with  my  Father  in  his  throne.  He  that 
hath  an  ear,  let  him  hear  what  the  Spirit  saith  unto 
the  churches.     Rev.  3  :  14—22. 

LAODICEA. 

The  present  chapter  completes  our  circuit  of 
the  seven  churches.  Climbing  the  lonely  and 
rocky  island,  Patmos,  we  heard  on  the  Lord's 
day  "  a  great  voice,  as  of  a  trumpet."  With  the 
hoary-headed  apostle,  we  turned  and  saw  the 
seven  golden  candlesticks,  and  in  the  midst  of 
them  one  like  unto  the  Son  of  man,  resplendent 
and  awful.  Directing  our  way  across  the  gulf 
to  the  mainland,  we  visited  Ephesus,  and  lis- 
tened while  the  church  there  was  receiving  a 
message  from  him  who  spake  as  never  man 
spake.  Going  northward,  we  paused  for  the 
same  purpose  at  Smyrna  and  Pergamos.  Thence, 
in  a  generally  south-eastern  direction,  and  at  in- 
tervals of  a  day's  journey  apart,  we  find  Thy- 
atira,  Sardis,  Philadelphia,  and   Laodicea,  —  the 


THE    EPISTLE    TO    LAODICEA.  243 

latter  not  far  from  seventy  miles  to  the  east  of 
Epliesus,  and  about  the  same  distance  that  Per- 
gamos  lies  to  the  north  of  that  city.  We  thus 
complete  a  triangle,  two  sides  being  equal,  and 
the  base  somewhat  longer. 

Laodicea,  the  city  farthest  east,  is  on  the 
confines  of  ancient  Lydia  and  Phrygia  Major, 
and  about  a  mile  south  of  the  small  river  Ly- 
cus.  Like  Eome,  it  was  built  on  several  hills ; 
but  neither  they  nor  the  surrounding  region 
present  much  that  is  picturesque,  or  specially 
attractive.  Former  fertility  no  longer  exists, 
and  many  barren  knolls  of  sand  may  be  seen 
in  the  vicinity.  Like  Philadelphia  and  its 
neisrhborhood,  this  reo:ion  has  suffered  much 
from    earthquakes. 

Approaching  the  spot,  we  find  no  houses, 
churches,  or  mosques;  but,  as  at  Sardis,  com- 
plete desolation.  The  two  cities  of  which  the 
churches  were  most  corrupt,  are  now  the  most 
desolate.  "We  find,  however,  extensive  ruins, 
indicating  the  w^ealth  of  the  place  when  it 
was  a  residence  of  Roman  governors.  Exca- 
vations  show  that   the   city,  once   opulent   and 


244  MORNING   HOURS    IN  PATMOS. 

populous,  is  now  chiefly  buried.  Above  ground 
may  still  be  seen  an  arched  entrance,  with  a 
portion  of  the  city  wall;  also  the  massive  re- 
mains of  a  bridge,  an  aqueduct,  and  of  theatres. 
On  the  north  of  the  town  are  scattered  sar- 
cophagi, long  since  rifled  of  their  contents ;  but 
living:  residents  in  Laodicea  there  are  none,  save 
foxes,  wolves,  and  jackals,  and,  when  a  passing 
camel  or  other  beast  falls,  a  flock  of  vultures 
and  eagles.  Physical  convulsions,  and  the  rav- 
ages of  Turks  and  Mongols,  have  made  a  deso- 
lation like  that  of  Nineveh  and  Babylon. 

Strolling  amidst  the  ruins,  we  find  a  profusion 
of  broken  columns,  scattered  pedestals,  and  other 
frag-ments.  We  enter  the  silent  enclosure  of 
the  amphitheatre,  capable,  when  entire,  of  seat- 
ing more  than  twenty  thousand  spectators.  We 
find  an  arch  with  an  inscription  purporting  that 
the  edifice  was  twelve  years  in  building,  was 
dedicated  to  Vespasian,  and  was  completed  dur- 
ing the  consulate  of  Trajan,  in  the  eighty-second 
year  of  the  Christian  era.  By  a  singular  coin- 
cidence, the  same  year  that  witnessed  the  com- 
mencement of  this  building  devoted  to  savage 


THE    EPISTLE    TO    LAODTCEA.  245 

exhibitions,  saw  also  the  destruction  of  the 
temple  at  Jerusalem,  which  had  been  forty  and 
eight  years  in  building,  whereof  not  one  stone 
was  left  upon  another ;  and  that  abomination 
of  desolation  was  accomplished  by  the  same 
commander  to  whom  the  amphitheatre  of  La- 
odicea,  a  structure  still  standing  in  part,  was 
dedicated. 

We  pass  on  to  the  capacious  theatre  on  the 
hill-side,  fronting  to  the  north ;  and  as  we  walk 
around  the  rows  of  marble  seats,  rising  in  suc- 
cessive tiers,  our  eyes  are  attracted  by  a  name, 
Zenonos,  "Of  Zenon,"  "The  seat  of  Zenon." 
Here,  then,  Zenon  used  to  sit.  Yes ;  the  right 
to  occupy  this  particular  spot  he  purchased. 
No  one  else  might  sit  here.  He  could  come 
at  any  time,  and  be  sure  of  a  place,  and  could 
Q;loat  to  his  heart's  content  on  the  savao;e  ex- 
hibitions  below.  That  was  towards  two  thou- 
sand years  ago.  If  Zenon  were  to  come  back 
from  the  unseen  world,  would  he  buy  a  seat  at 
the  theatre  ?  Would  he  not  rather  find  his  way 
to  the   conference-room  and  the   church  of  the 

despised  Christians  ?     What  is  Dives'  answer  ? 

21* 


246  MORNING    HOURS    IN    PAT  M  OS. 

With  respect  to  the  introduction  of  Chris- 
tianity into  Laodicea,  we  have  no  knowledge; 
though  it  is  not  improbable  that  Paul  preached 
there.  He  certainly  felt  an  affectionate  interest 
for  the  Christians  of  that  city.  Writing  to  the 
saints  at  Colosse,  distant  only  a  few  miles,  he 
says :  "  For  I  would  that  ye  knew  what  great 
conflict  I  have  for  you,  and  for  them  at  Lao- 
dicea,  and  for  as  many  as  have  not  seen  my  face 
in  the  flesh;"  and  "Salute  the  brethren  which 
are  in  Laodicea,  and  Nymphas,  and  the  church 
which  is  in  his  house.  And  when  the  epistle  is 
read  among  you,  cause  that  it  be  read  also  in 
the  church  of  the  Laodiceans;  and  that  ye  like- 
wise read  the  epistle  from  Laodicea."  He  also 
bears  record  that  Epaphras  had  a  great  zeal 
for  them  in  Laodicea  and  them  in  Hieropolis, 
a  city  distant  only  five  miles,  and  plainly  visible 
from  the  theatre  just  referred  to. 

Having  surveyed  the  silent  ruins,  we  open 
an  epistle  dictated  one-third  of  a  century  later 
than  that  of  Paul.  It  is  at  once  alarming  and 
winning. 


THE    EPISTLE   TO    LA  GDI  CE  A.  247 

May  He  who"  speaketh  to  the  churches,  grant 
an  open  ear  and  an  open  heart !  May  the  dread 
of  Him  who  is  the  Alpha  and  the  Omega,  fall 
upon  us !  May  every  one  be  effectually  taught 
by  the  address  of  Him  who  holdeth  the  seven 
stars  in  his  right  hand,  to  whom  be  glory  in  the 
church  universal,  world  without  end.     Amen. 

THE   FAITHFUL    WITNESS. 

"  Unto  the  angel  of  the  church  of  the  Laodiceans 
write,  These  things  saith  the  Amen :  the  faithful  and 
true  Witness." 

Was  not  Paul,  too,  and  w^ere  not  all  authors 
of  epistles  in  the  New  Testament,  true  witnesses  ? 
Indeed  they  were ;  but  their  messages  are  infal- 
lible only  because  penned  under  the  guidance 
of  the  Holy  Spirit — the  Spirit  sent  by  Him  wdio 
here  speaks  in  his  own  name,  who  is  himself  in- 
finite truth,  its  fountain,  its  embodiment  and 
revealer;  who,  in  the  sublime  consciousness  of 
his  own  character,  without  arrogance  could  say, 
"  Though  I  bear  record  of  myself,  my  record  is 


248  MORNING    HOURS    IN    PATMOS. 

true;  for  I  know  whence  I  came^  and  whither 
I  go." 

Was  there  a  real  meaning  in  the  numerous 
symbols  of  the  Old  Testament?  Jesus  Christ 
is  their  Antitype.  To  the  whole  costly  and  com- 
plicated ritual  system,  to  the  many  and  varied 
messianic  prophecies,  he  is  the  responsive  Amen. 
Every  divine  purpose  and  proceeding  from  eter- 
nity has  centred  in  him.  At  Immanuel's  first 
advent,  all  holy  beings  cried  Amen;  at  his  sec- 
ond coming,  a  mightier  host  will  shout,  as  the 
sound  of  many  waters,  Amen, 

CHRIST'S   SUPREMACY. 

"  These  things  saith  the  Beginning  of  the  creation 
of  God." 

He  who  so  wonderfully  reveals  himself  in  the 
first  apocalyptic  vision,  and  who  now  sends  a 
message  to  the  church  in  Laodicea,  is  at  the 
head  of  created  things  —  is  Lord  paramount  of 
Asia  Minor,  of  the  Koman  Empire,  of  the  whole 
earth.  He  taketh  up  the  isles,  as  a  very  little 
thing.     If  he  but  touch  the  hills,  they  smoke. 


THE   EPISTLE    TO    LAODICEA.  249 

To  liim  belongs  the  primacy  over  every  world, 
and  all  things  therein,  great  or  small,  near  or 
afar  off,  in  the  wide  universe.  When  on  the 
eve  of  being  apprehended,  and  put  to  death, 
Jesus  lifted  up  his  eyes  to,  heaven,  and  said, 
"  Father,  the  hour  is  come ;  glorify  thy  Son, 
that  thy  Son  also  may  glorify  thee,  as  thou 
hast  given  him  power  over  all  flesh."  On  the 
eve  of  ascension  to  glory,  he  declares:  "All 
power  is  given  unto  me  in  heaven  and  in 
earth."  Inspired  apostles  take  up  the  testi- 
mony :  "  For  he  hath  put  all  things  under 
him."  But  will  he  ever  have  that  preeminence 
visibly,  and  by  the  acknowledgment  of  all? 
"Wherefore  God  hath  also  highly  exalted  him, 
and  given  him  a  name  which  is  above  every 
name :  that  at  the  name  of  Jesus  every  knee 
should  bow,  of  things  in  heaven,  and  things  in 
earth,  and  things  under  the  earth ;  and  that 
every  tongue  should  confess  that  Jesus  Christ 
is  Lord  to  the  glory  of  God  the  Father." 


250  MORNING    HOURS    IN   PATMOS. 

THE   LUKEWARM  REJECTED. 

"  I  know  thy  works  that  thou  art  neither  cold  nor 
hot ;  I  would  thou  wert  cold  or  hot.  So,  then,  because 
thou  art  lukewarm,  and  neither  cold  nor  hot,  I  will 
spue  thee  out  of  my  mouth." 

As  this  church  is  the  last,  so  it  is  the  worst 
of  the  seven.  Here  is  no  commendation,  no  en- 
couraging reference  even  to  the  past.  Far  gone 
as  Sardis  was,  still  "things  that  remain"  could 
be  mentioned.  Not  so  here.  Without  exception, 
and  without  qualification,  the  Laodiceans  are 
pronounced  lukewarm.  The  whole  church  is 
lifeless. 

For  aught  that  appears,  they  have  kept  them- 
selves free  from  the  doctrines  of  Balaam,  and  of 
the  Nicolaitanes ;  they  have  no  Jezebel,  and  no 
synagogues  of  Satan ;  their  creed  is  still  sound, 
and  their  modes  of  worship  unexceptionable. 
What,  then,  can  be  wanting  ?  Heart  is  wanting ; 
earnestness  is  wanting.  There  is  no  self-denial 
that  costs  anything ;  no  cross-bearing  that  they 
feel;  no  determined  witnessing  for  Christ;  no 
valiant   aggression,  that   keeps   sinews   strained, 


THE    EPISTLE    TO    LAODICEA.  251 

that  brings  wounds  and  martyrdom.  Genuine 
spirituality,  and  all  religious  geniality  of  soul,  are 
gone.  The  realities  of  a  world  to  come  have 
sunk  into  semi-fictions.  And  the  most  ominous 
feature  of  their  state  is  contentedness  with  this 
statue-like  religion,  tolerably  faultless,  except  that 
it  has  no  life.  They  are  not  Jews,  to  be  sure ;  they 
are  not  heathens  ;  they  are  nominal  Christians; 
a  class  of  respectable  dissenters  from  surrounding 
idolatry,  experimenting  upon  a  compromise  be- 
tween God  and  Satan.  Most  offensive  is  this  to 
Him  who  is  the  faithful  and  true  witness. 

"  I  would  thou  wert  cold  or  hot."  We  do  not 
understand  that  there  are  three  degrees  of  spirit- 
ual affections,  ranging  from  fervor  down  to  freez- 
ing-point ;  but  two  comparatively  commendable 
phases  of  inner  life,  both  of  which  stand  in  con- 
trast with  a  third,  which  is  altogether  censurable. 
Our  Lord  does  not  place  lukewarmness  as  a 
state  intermediate  between  the  other  two,  —  one 
through  which  a  believer  must  pass,  in  rising 
from  the  cold  to  the  hot.  A  mere  difference 
in  degree,  and  yet  something  less  desirable  than 
a  lower  degree,  does  not  answer  to  the  descrip- 


252  MORNING   HOURS   IN  PA:TM0S. 

tion.  There  is  a  difference  in  kind  from  both 
the  other  states.  One  cannot  ascend  from  the 
cold  to  the  ardent,  through  a  yet  more  dangerous 
temperature.  There  is  an  invincible  harshness  in 
supposing  Christ  to  employ  such  a  representation. 
By  cold,  he  seems  to  designate  a  spiritual  con- 
dition not  usually  so  designated,  but  ordinarily 
indicated  rather  by  desertion,  or  the  absence  of 
light ;  as  in  the  familiar  case  of  Job  :  "  Oh  that  I 
knew  where  I  might  find  him  ! "  In  that  state, 
though  very  unlike  the  one  of  ardent  and  joyous 
affections,  there  is  not  indifference,*  nor  is  there 
content ;  but  a  sense  of  its  unfitness  and  discom- 
fort, and  a  longing  and  groping  after  something 
better.  Now,  it  is  far  more  hojDcful  to  be  thus 
discontentedly  devoid  of  comfort,  than  to  be 
lukewarm,  which,  as  the  verse  following  shows,  is 
to  be  highly  self-satisfied.  Of  all  spiritual  symp- 
toms that  is  the  least  auspicious,  and  with  that 
our  Lord  is  highly  displeased. 

"So,  then,  because  thou  art  lukewarm,  and 
neither  cold  nor  hot,  I  will  spue  thee  out  of  my 
mouth."  To  be  tepid,  is  to  be  nauseous ;  and 
hereby  is  expressed  the  feeling  of  deep  disgust, 


THE    EPISTLE   TO    LAODICEA.  253 

of  intense  loathing.  To  be  thus  hstless  and  sloth- 
ful, thus  without  the  power  though  with  the  form 
of  godliness,  is  to  be  a  living  blot  upon  Christi- 
anity—  to  be  a  virtual  antichrist.  "If  any  man 
love  the  world,  the  love  of  the  Father  is  not  in 
him."  The  whole  genius,  all  the  truths,  condi- 
tions, and  considerations  of  spiritual  Christianity, 
require  earnestness  and  action. 

The  first  great  fact,  patent  to  all,  undeniable 
and  universal,  is  that  of  human  depravity ;  a 
moral  corruption,  deep  and  all-pervading,  which 
no  lapse  of  time  ameliorates,  and  no  skill  and  no 
effort  of  man  can  eradicate  or  arrest ;  an  apos- 
tasy from  God,  carrying  irreparable  disorder 
through  the  individual  soul,  and  ruin  through  the 
race  ;  an  apostasy  which  awakened  the  holy  dis- 
pleasure of  God,  and  called  down  his  curse.  The 
moment  men  awake  to  their  situation,  there  goes 
up  a  deep  wail  -,  they  try  to  rescue  themselves. 
One  cries,  Lo,  here  !  and  another,  Lo,  there  !  — 
but  to  no  purpose.  On  they  go,  still  in  the  broad 
road  to  destruction. 

The  other  great  fact,  the  only  one  more  won- 
derful than  the  former,  —  and   these  two  stand 

22 


254  MORNING    HOURS   IN  PATMOS. 

out  before  the  universe  as  incomparably  the  most 
mysterious  and  far-reaching  that  mortal  man  can 
know,  a  truth  of  strange,  sublime  immensity, —  is 
that  of  atonement  —  the  coming  hither  of  the 
adorable  Son  of  God,  made  under  the  law,  mal- 
treated, rejected,  yet  standing  in  the  sinner's 
place,  and  suffering  for  him.  Thus  in  the  great- 
ness of  his  strength  he  makes  expiation  and  pro- 
pitiation, reconciles  heaven  and  earth,  reopens 
the  closed  gate  to  the  favor  and  the  paradise  of 
God,  and  invites  all  who  will  to  come  and  freely 
«.  receive  pardon  and  the  blessedness  of  heaven. 
Now,  what  may  be  expected  of  suiih  ransomed 
sinners  ?  what  but  that,  roused  from  the  torpor 
of  sin,  they  remain  through  life  and  through 
eternity  awake  with  intensest  gratitude  and 
love  ?  Lukewarm  !  Shall  the  man  snatched  from 
the  surging  caldron  of  a  volcano,  turn  listlessly 
away  from  his  benefactor,  as  if  nothing  had  hap- 
pened ?  Lukewarm  !  "  Every  drop  of  my  blood 
thanks  you,"  said  a  condemned  criminal  to  Dr. 
Doddridge,  who  brought  a  pardon  for  him, — 
"  Every  drop  of  my  blood  thanks  you  :  I  will  be 
your  servant  as  long  as  I  live  ! "     What  shall  a 


THE   EriSTLE    TO    LAODICEA.  255 

justified  sinner  say  to  his  Savionr?  Let  young 
plighted  hearts  grow  lukewarm,  let  a  mother's 
love  grow  lukewarm,  but  not  the  soul  of  a  sinner 
saved  from  wrath,  and  made  a  joint  heir  with 
Christ. 

SPIRITUAL   POVERTY. 

"  Because  thou  sayest,  I  am  rich,  and  increased  with 
goods,  and  have  need  of  nothing ;  and  knowest  not 
that  thou  art  wretched,  and  miserable,  and  poor,  and 
blind,  and  naked." 

Such  self-righteous  conceitedness  is  contempt 
of  Christ's  whole  work  on  earth  —  his  law-magni- 
fying obedience  and  sufferings,  his  amazing  self- 
denial,  his  soul-conflicts  with  the  powers  of  dark- 
ness, his  bloody  sweat,  his  agony  when  bereft  of 
the  Father's  countenance  —  all  which  was  to  pro- 
cure for  his  people  the  wealth  of  peace  with  God 
and  life  everlasting. 

A  self-satisfied  spirit  always  characterizes  re- 
ligious declension.  It  is  only  in  the  dark  that 
fireflies  sport  themselves.  When  a  man  feels  that, 
touching  the  righteousness  which  is  of  the  law, 
he  is  blameless,  and  gives  pharisaic  thanks  that 


256  MORNING    HOURS    IN   PATMOS. 

he  is  not  as  other  men  are,  then  look  for  the 
displeasure  of  the  Holy  One.  An  invariable  and 
a  most  unpromising  feature  of  that  state  is  self- 
ignorance.  But  there  is  no  such  ignorance  as 
that  which  exists  in  the  midst  of  profuse  means 
of  knowledge  ;  no  such  want  of  vision  as  that 
which  exists  at  noon-day.  It  is  not  from  a  defect 
of  light,  but  a  defect  in  the  eye  itself 

There  would  be  some  hope,  indeed  all  hope, 
for  the  Laodiceans,  if  they  only  felt  their  true 
condition.  It  was  an  auspicious  hour  when  Ezra, 
in  behalf  of  himself  and  the  people,  cried,  "  0 
my  God !  I  am  ashamed,  and  blush  to  lift  up  my 
face  to  thee,  my  God ;  for  our  iniquities  are  in- 
creased over  our  head,  and  our  trespass  is  grown 
up  unto  the  heavens."  And  so  was  it  when  David 
confessed,  "  I  acknowledge  my  transgressions,  and 
my  sin  is  ever  before  me."  But  the  church  at 
Laodicea  have  no  such  feelings ;  they  look  upon 
these,  no  doubt,  as  extreme  statements ;  they  re- 
gard themselves  as  well-off  in  the  world  —  well 
to  do  in  the  spiritual  kingdom ;  they  have  won 
golden  opinions  from  the  public  and  from  them- 
selves ;  they  have  decked  one  another  with  titles. 


THE    EPISTLE    TO    LAODICEA.  257 

They,  however,  mistake  gifts  for  graces.  They  are 
smitten  with  spiritual  lunacy ;  their  treasures  are 
all  imaginary  ;  and  He  who  once  spake  a  parable 
unto  certain  which  trusted  in  themselves  that 
they  were  righteous,  and  despised  others,  now 
speaketh  plainly,  and  speaketh  no  parable,  when 
he  declares,  "  I  will  spue  thee  out  of  my 
mouth." 

TRUE   RICHES. 

"  I  counsel  thee  to  buy  of  me  gold  tried  in  the  fire, 
that  thou  mayest  be  rich,  and  white  raiment  that  thou 
mayest  be  clothed,  and  that  the  shame  of  thy  naked- 
ness do  not  appear  ;  and  anoint  thine  eyes  with  eye- 
salve,  that  thou  mayest  see." 

Strange  traffic  this !     The  poor  challenged  to 

buy  —  to  buy  refined  gold,  and  costly  raiment ! 

Such,  however,  is  the  usage   in    that   kingdom 

over  which  He  presides  who  is  the  beginning  of 

the  creation  of  God,  and  whose  munificence  is 

more  than  royal.     Merchantmen  go  thither  and 

buy,  without   money  and  without   price.     They 

find    gold    such    as    the    Pactolus   never   carried 

amidst   its  sands ;  they  gather  up  ingots  of  in- 

22* 


258  MORNING    HOURS    IN   PATMOS. 

estimable  worth,  and  pearls  of  great  price ;  and 
they  store  them  where  thieves  do  not  break 
through  nor  steal. 

All  are  invited  to  visit  that  land,  more  orient, 
more  wonderful  than  the  Indies,  with  their  palm- 
groves,  and  diamond  mines,  and  mountains  and 
plains  of  teeming  wealth.  The  poor,  the  halt, 
the  maimed,  those  deepest  sunk  in  misery,  are 
invited  to  resort,  free  of  cost,  to  Immanuel.  He 
welcomes  them ;  the  fatted  calf  is  killed ;  the 
costly  wardrobe  thrown  open,  and  beautiful  gar- 
ments are  put  on. 

The  sick  of  all  descriptions,  the  leprous,  the 
paralytic,  and  those  possessed  of  devils,  throng 
there,  and  are  healed.  And  w^hen  the  Great 
Physician  has  condescendingly  anointed  the 
eyes  of  the  blind,  they  wash,  and  come  seeing. 
Not  one  highway  beggar  cries,  "  Have  mercy  on 
me ! "  to  whom  the  Lord  does  not  say,  "  Be  of 
good  comfort :  go  thy  way  ;  thy  faith  hath  made 
thee  whole."  Though  blind  before,  now  he  sees 
—  sees  Jesus  the  Lamb  of  God ;  sees  what  he  had 
no  idea  of  before,  in  the  world  around  him ;  sees 
the  blackness  of  darkness  beneath,  and  the  con- 


THE    EPISTLE    TO    LAODICEA.  259 

suming  fire  ;  beholds  the  high  altar,  the  bleeding 
victim,  and  justice  appeased  ;  looks  into  the  un- 
seen world,  and  discovers  glories  unutterably 
attractive.  He  is  humbled ;  his  self-conceit  is 
gone  ;  he  cries, "  I  have  heard  of  thee  by  the 
hearing  of  the  ear,  but  now  mine  eye  seeth 
thee  ;  wherefore,  I  abhor  myself,  and  repent  in 
dust  and  ashes."  Did  the  once  famous  school  of 
medicine  at  Laodicea,  or  any  modern  seat  of 
science,  ever  effect  such  wonders  of  healing? 
Proud  philosophy  does  not  indeed  admit  depend- 
ence for  virtue.  "  That  we  live,"  says  Seneca,  "is 
the  gift  of  God  ;  but  that  we  live  well,  is  owing 
to  philosophy."  But  the  Lord  counsels  us  to 
come  at  once  to  him  for  supplies,  such  as  no  one 
else  can  give,  and  without  Avhicli  we  sink  in 
perpetual  bankruptcy. 

DISCIPLINE   A    TOKEN    OF  LOVE. 

"  As  many  as  I  love,  I  rebuke  and  chasten  ;  be  zeal- 
ous, therefore,  and  repent." 

Here  comes  out  the  heart  of  Jesus.  Desperate 
as  is  the  case  of  the  Laodicean  church,  and 
deeply  as   they    have    wounded    the    Lord   that 


260  MORNI^TG    HOURS   IN   PATMOS. 

bought  them,  by  turnmg  away  self-satisfied  in 
their  poverty  from  the  wealth  which  he  acquired 
so  expensively,  and  offers  so  freely,  yet  are  they 
not  apostate  beyond  all  hope.  Sharp  and  mer- 
ited rebuke  has  been  administered  ;  but  it  had  its 
root  in  love  to  the  remnant  of  believers,  despite 
of  prevailing  self-righteousness.  Christ's  heart 
yearns  still  toward  any  real  disciple,  however 
backslidden:  "How  shall  I  give  thee  up,  Eph- 
raim  ? "  If  Christ  were  an  enemy  to  the  Laodi- 
ceans,  he  would  leave  them  to  themselves,  undis- 
turbed by  a  friendly  alarm. 

A  general  law  of  his  gracious  economy  is  here 
set  forth:  "As  many  as  I  love,  I  rebuke  and 
chasten."  As  all  need  chastisement  in  some 
measure,  they  in  some  measure  receive  it,  and 
thus  have  proof  of  the  Saviour's  attachment. 
This  is  a  hard  lesson  to  learn,  and  believers  are 
dull  scholars ;  yet  here  and  throughout  God's 
word  and  ]Drovidence  it  stands,  that  trials  are  his 
benedictions,  and  that  no  child  escapes  the  rod. 
The  incorrigibly  misshapen  and  coarse-grained 
blocks  are  rejected,  whilst  those  chosen  for  the 
glorious  structure  are  subjected  to  the  chisel  and 


THE    EPISTLE    TO    LAODICEA.  261 

the  hammer.  There  is  no  ckister  on  the  true  vine 
but  must  pass  through  the  wine-press.  "  For  my- 
self," said  an  old  divine  under  affliction  — "  for 
myself,  I  bless  God,  I  have  observed  and  felt  so 
much  mercy  in  this  angry  dispensation  of  God, 
that  I  am  almost  transported.  I  am  sure  highly 
pleased  with  thinking  how  infinitely  sweet  his 
mercies  are,  when  his  judgments  are  so  gracious." 
In  view,  then,  of  the  origin  and  design  of  the 
chastisements  you  receive,  "  Be  zealous  and  re- 
pent." Lose  no  time  ;  lose  not  a  blow  of  the 
rod,  but  repent  at  once.  Be  fervent  in  spirit. 
Such  is  the  first  appliance  of  encouragement. 

CHE  1ST  KNOCKING   AT    THE   DOOR. 

"  Behold,  I  stand  at  the  door  and  knock ;  if  any 
man  hear  my  voice,  and  open  the  door,  I  will  come 
in  to  him,  and  will  sup  with  him,  and  he  with  me." 

Here  is  the  heart  of  hearts.  Notwithstanding 
their  offensive  attitude,  their  unlovely  character, 
such  is  his  love  to  their  souls,  that  he  humbles 
himself  to  solicit  the  privilege  of  making  them 
blessed. 


262  MORNING    HOURS    IN    P  ATM  OS. 

"Behold,  I  stand  at  the  door  and  knock." 
Why  does  he?  Not  because  he  is  without 
home  elsewhere.  There  are  hearts  open  to  him 
at  Ephesus,  Smyrna,  Pergamos,  Thyatira,  Phila- 
delphia. At  many  a  door,  far  and  near,  he  finds 
welcome.  Among  the  mansions  in  his  Father's 
house  there  is  not  one  entrance  closed  to  him. 
He  is  the  life  of  every  heart,  the  light  in  every 
eye,  the  song  on  every  tongue  in  glory.  But  he 
goes  round  from  door  to  door  in  Laodicea.  He 
stands  at  each  and  knocks,  because  he  came  to 
seek  and  to  save  that  which  is  lost ;  because  he 
cannot  give  up  the  purpose  of  communicating 
eternal  life  to  as  many  as  the  Father  hath  given 
him;  and  because  he  cannot  become  known  to 
the  inmate  unless  the  door  be  opened,  and  a 
w^elcome  given  him. 

Have  you  bought  a  piece  of  ground;  have 
you  bought  five  yoke  of  oxen;  is  your  hat  in 
hand,  and  do  you  pray  to  be  excused  ?  He 
knocks  and  knocks.  But  you  cannot  receive 
company  at  present;  you  are  worn  out  with 
labor;  you  have  wheeled  round  the  sofa;  you 
are  making  yourself  comfortable,  and  you  send 


THE    EPISTLE    TO    LAODICEA.  263 

word  you  are  engaged.  He  knocks  and  knocks. 
But  it  would  spoil  the  game  to  have  Him  come 
in.  Besides,  there  must  needs  be  a  little  slan- 
der, and  a  little  scandal,  and,  as  the  shutters  are 
closed,  and  the  young  people  wish  it,  a  little 
dancing,  perhaps,  before  breaking  up ;  and  to 
unbolt  the  door  would  spoil  the  whole.  He 
knocks  and  knocks.  It  is  the  hour  for  church 
prayer-meeting,  or  for  monthly  concert ;  there 
is  opportunity  to  pay  a  Christian  visit  to  an 
individual  or  a  family ;  but  you  move  not. 

To  be  frank,  you  deem  it  the  pastor's  business 
to  attend  to  these  things;  you  help  support  him, 
and  that  is  your  part ;  it  is  not  every  one's  duty 
to  do  everything.  As  for  so  many  meetings, 
you  think  them  rather  injurious  than  otherwise ; 
at  least,  uncalled  for.  You  do  not  like  a  noisy, 
officious  religion.  There  is  a  handsome  bound 
Bible  on  the  centre-table,  and  a  Philosophy .  of 
the  Plan  of  Salvation  on  the  side-table,  and  a 
Baxters  Saint's  Best  somewhere  about  the 
house  —  and  you  have  need  of  nothing. 

Oh,  nauseous  lukewarmness !  Oh,  fatal  world- 
Hness!      The  Lord  of  glory  comes  all  the  way 


264  MORNING   HOURS   IN   PATMOS. 

from  his  celestial  palace  —  comes  in  poverty,  in 
sweat,  in  blood  —  comes  to  the  door  of  a  pro- 
fessed friend,  who  owes  all  to  him,  and  cannot 
get  in !  —  comes  to  rescue  a  man  whose  house 
is  on  fire,  and  he  will  not  admit  him !  Oh,  the 
height,  the  depth  of  Jesus  Christ's  forbearance ! 
Even  the  heathen  Publius  received  Paul,  and 
lodged  him  three  days  courteously.  Shall  nom- 
inal Christians  tell  the  Lord  of  apostles  they 
have  no  room  for  Him  ? 

THE    VICTOR    TO   BE   EXALTED. 

"'  To  him  that  overcometh,  will  I  grant  to  sit  with 
me  in  my  throne,  even  as  I  also  overcame,  and  am  set 
down  with  my  Father  in  his  throne." 

If  Laodicean  carnality  is  not  broken  up  by 
such  an  appeal,  what  can  avail  ?  If  the  pros- 
pect of  advancement  like  this  does  not  enkindle 
a  holy  ambition,  what  sensibility  to  heavenly 
things  remains  ? 

The  precise  form  and  manner  of  the  saint's 
future  exaltation  we  know  not.  Enough  for  us, 
that  the  redeemed  are  to  be  superlatively  hon- 


THE    EPISTLE    TO    LAODICEA.  265 

ored,  by  being  intimately  associated  with  the 
Prince  of  the  kings  of  the  earth.  "  If  we  suffer, 
we  shall  also  reign  with  him." 


A   LAODICEA!^  SPIRIT  NOW. 

Is  there  not  similar  declension  now  ?  Is  there 
no  floating  on  the  current  of  worldliness  ?  Is 
there  no  unchristian,  no  antichristian  deference 
to  fashion  ?  Has  not  public  sentiment  often 
more  weight  than  the  oracles  of  God  ?  Plung- 
ing into  business,  to  the  neglect  of  the  soul  and 
of  the  family ;  mingling  daily  with  men  who  are 
n-oino;  direct  to  destruction,  wdthout  a  word  of 
warning  to  them ;  treating  one's  self  to  comforts 
and  luxuries,  but  doling  out  a  mere  pittance,  or 
nothing  at  all,  for  the  spread  of  the  gospel, — 
what  is  all  this  but  an  attempt  at  a  decent  denial 
of  the  Lord  that  bought  us  ? 

In  amusements  there   is   alacrity,  in  business 

there   is   earnestness,  in   travelling  there   is  hot 

haste,  in   politics  the  public  mind  keeps^  up   to 

the    boiling-point,  —  why  this   lukewarmness   in 

religious  duties  and  affections  ?     So  long  as  that 

23 


206  MORNING  HOURS    IN   PATMOS. 

lasts,  all  other  zeal  is  apostasy,  and  the  heart  of 
Jesus  is  grieved  by  such  behavior. 

It  is  awful  mockery  to  be  dallying  with  the 
Christian  name — merely  to  think  well  of  Christ's 
23erson,  Christ's  work,  Christ's  ordinances.  If 
such  be  our  character,  He  who  in  the  days  of 
his  flesh  offered  up  prayers  and  supplications 
w^ith  strong  crying  and  tears ;  who,  amidst 
groans,  amidst  rending  rocks,  a  quaking  earth, 
a  sun  veiled  in  sackcloth,  offered  up  himself 
a  vicarious  sacrifice,  will  spue  us  out  of  his 
mouth,  except  we  repent. 

THE   CLOSING   LESSON. 

The  Book  of  Revelation  is,  in  some  sense,  one 
great  epistle.  It  winds  up  most  appropriately 
the  series  of  inspired  communications  to  man ; 
and  to  no  other  does  it  yield  in  the  scope,  gran- 
deur, and  importance  of  its  contents.  But  these 
seven  epistles  have  peculiar  practicalness  and 
weight.  They  are  our  Lord's  only  direct  and 
specific  messages  from  heaven,  to  the  church  at 
large,  since  he  left  the  earth ;  they  are  his  last 
words,  that  will  be    so    addressed,  till   he    shall 


THE    EPISTLE    TO    LAODICEA.  267 

come  again,  and  by  his  mighty  voice  shake  not 
the  earth  only  but  also  heaven. 

These  words  are  as  truly  catholic  and  perma- 
nent in  their  design  and  adaptation  as  any  part 
of  the  New  Testament ;  not  less  truly  so  than 
Paul's  epistles  to  Ephesus,  Colosse,  or  Corinth. 
They  \veve  for  all  churches  and  all  ages,  as  well 
as  for  those  immediately  addressed.  Along  the 
tide  of  centuries  has  come  the  challenge  — 

"  He  that  hath  an  ear,  let  him  hear  what  the  Spirit 
saitli  unto  the  churches." 

To-day  it  becomes  audible  to  every  one  who 
does  not  close  the  ear  and  heart  to  Him  who 
speaketh  from  heaven.  By  the  waning  love  at 
Ephesus,  by  neglected  discipline  at  Pergamos 
and  Thyatira,  by  the  far-gone  decay  of  Sardis 
and  Laodicea,  is  every  church  now  warned.  The 
same  eyes,  as  a  flame  of  fire,  pierce  through  our 
disguises ;  the  same  feet,  like  unto  fnie  brass,  as 
if  they  burned  in  a  furnace,  walk  still  amidst 
the  golden  candlesticks ;  and  from  those  lips, 
mingling  kindness  and  severity,  still  flow  gra- 
cious promises  to  every  victorious  soldier  of  the 


288  MORNING    HOURS    IN   PATMOS. 

Great  King.  Oh  !  by  the  fruit  of  the  tree  of  hfe, 
and  by  the  crown  of  Ufe  ;  by  the  hidden  manna 
and  the  white  stone ;  by  the  white  raiment  and 
the  lasting  record  in  heaven's  register ;  by  the 
liigh  titles  of  honor  and  a  place  in  the  temple 
of  our  God ;  yea,  by  a  share  in  the  victories  and 
on  the  throne  of  the  King  of  Zion,  are  we  in- 
cited to  fight  the  good  fight  of  faith,  to  do  the 
first  works,  to  be  zealous,  to  hold  fast,  and  at 
length  to  overcome.  The  Lord  grant  us  to  be 
conquerors,  and  more  than  conquerors,  through 
the  blood  of  the  Lamb  !  And  now,  unto  him  that 
loved  us,  and  washed  us  from  our  sins  in  his  own 
blood,  and  hath  made  us  kings  and  priests  unto 
God  and  his  Father,  to  him  be  glory  and  dominion 

FOR   EVER    AND    EVER.      AmEN. 


THE    END 


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an  Introduction  by  W.  B  Sprague,  D.  D.  Twenty-four  splendid  Illustra- 
tions.   12mo,  cloth.    SBl.OO. 

MO  THERS  OF  THE  WISE  AND  G  0  OD.  By  Jabez  Burns,  D.  D.  16mo, 
cloth.    75  cents. 

THE  SIGNET-RING,  and  its  Heavenly  Motto.  From  the  German.  Illus- 
trated.   16mo,  cloth,  gilt.    31  cents. 

THE  MARRIAGE-RING ;  or,  How  to  Make  Home  Happy.  From  the  writ- 
ings of  John  Angkll  James.  Beautifully  Illustrated  edition.  IGmo, 
cloth,  gilt.     75  cents. 

(5S) 


(ELEGAST  MiyiATURES.     32mo,  rjilt,  31  cts.  each.) 


THE  BIBLE  AND  THE  CLOSET.     Edited  by  J.  O.  Choules,  D.  D. 

r//^  FAMILY  ALTAR;   or,  the  Duty,  Benefit,  and  mode  of  Conducting 
Family  Worship. 

THE  FAMIL  Y  CIRCLE;  its  Affections  and  Pleasures.    Rev.  H.  A.  Graves. 

THE  MARRIAGE-RING;   or,  How  to  Make  Home  Happy.    By  Rev.  J. 
Angell  James. 

THE  CASKET  OF  JEWELS,  for  Young  Christians.    By  James,  Edwakds, 
and  Harris. 

THE  A  CTIVE  CHRISTIAN;  from  writings  of  John  Harris,  D.  D. 

DAIL  Y  MANNA  ;  for  Christian  Pilgrims.    By  Rev.  B.  Stow,  D.  D. 

THE  CYPRESS  WREATH;  Consolation  for  those  who  mourn.    Edited  by 
Rupus  W.  Griswoi.d,  D.  D. 

THE  YOUNG  COMMUNICANT;  an  Aid  to  the  Right  Understanding  and 
Spiritual  Improvement  of  the  Lord's  Supper. 

LYRIC  GEMS;  a  Collection  of  Original  and  Select  Sacred  Poetry.     Edited 
by  S.  F.  Smith,  D.  D. 

THE  MOURNER'S  CHAPLET;   an  Offering  of  Sympathy  for  Bereaved 
Friends.    Selected  from  American  Poets.    Edited  by  John  Keese. 

THE  ATTRACTIONS  OF  HEAVEN.     Rev.  H.  A.  Graves. 

THE   SILENT  COMFORTER  ;    a  Companion   for   the  Sick-Room.     By 
Louisa  Pa YSON  Hopkins. 

GOLDEN  GEMS,  for  the  Christian.    From  the  writings  of  John  Flavel, 
with  Memoir  of  the  Author.    By  Rev.  Joseph  Banvaud. 

EQ~  Sets  of  the  ahove  fourteen  volumes,  forming  a  beautiful  Miniature  Libkaky,  put  up  in 
neat  boxes,  f  4.34. 

ELEGANT  DOUBLE  MINIATURES.     32mo,  gilt,  50  cts.  each. 

THE  WEDDING  GIFT;   or,  the  Duties  and  Pleasures  of  Domestic  Life. 
Containing  the  "  Marriage-Ring"  and  the  "  Family  Circle." 

THE  YOUNG   CHRISTIAN'S  GUIDE  to  the  Doctrines  and  Duties  of  a 
Religious  Life.     Containing  "  Casket  of  Jewels"  and  "  Active  Christian." 

THE  MOURNER  COMFORTED;    containing  the  "  Cypress  Wreath,"  and 

the  "  Mourner's  Chaplet." 
DAIL  Y  D  UTIES ;  containing  the  "  Bible  and  Closet,"  and  "  Family  Altar." 

THE    CHRISTIAN'S   DAILY    COMPANION;    containing  the  "  Daily 
Manna"  and  the  "  Young  Communicant." 

CONSOLATION  FOR  THE  AFFLICTED;  containing  the  " Silent  Com- 
forter" and  the  "Attractions  of  Heaven." 
a3"  Sets  of  tlic  above,  in  neat  boxes,  six  volumei,  $."3.00.  (a&) 


(Bonk  uiitj  liuicolii's  l^ublicatbns* 


(LITERARY.) 


CYCLOPAEDIA  OF  ANECDOTES  OF  LITERATURE  AND  THE 
FINE  ARTS.  Contaiuing  a  copious  aud  choice  Selectiou  of  Anecdotes  of 
the  various  forms  of  Literature,  of  the  Arts,  of  Architecture,  Engravings, 
Music,  Poetry,  Tainting,  and  Sculpture,  and  of  the  most  celebrated  Literary 
Characters  and  Artists  of  different  Countries  and  Ages,  etc.  By  Kazlitt 
Arvine,  A.  M.    Numerous  Illustrations.    Octavo,  cl.    .fS.OO. 

This  is  unquestionably  the  choicest  collection  of  Anecdotes  ever  published.  It  contains  three 
thousand  and  forty  Anecdotes:  and  such  is  the  wonderful  variety,  that  it  will  be  tbuud  an 
almost  inexhaustible  fund  of  interest  for  every  class  of  readers. 

KNOWLEDGE  IS  POWER.  A  View  of  the  Productive  Forces  and  the 
Results  of  Labor,  Capital,  and  Skill.  By  Charles  Knight.  With  numer- 
ous Illustrations.    Revised  by  David  A.  Wells.    12mo,  cloth.    $1.25. 

LANDING  AT  CAPE  ANNE;    or,  The  Charter  of  the  First  Permanent 
Colony  on  the  Territory  of  the  Massachusetts  Company.    By  J.  Wingate 
Thornton.    8vo,  cloth.    $1.50. 
la^-  "  A  rare  contribution  to  the  early  history  of  New  England."—  Mercantile  Journal. 

THE  CRUISE  OF  THE  NORTH  STAR.  Excursion  to  England,  Russia, 
Denmark,  France,  Spain,  Italy,  Malta,  Turkey,  Madeira,  etc.  By  Rev.  John 
O.  Choules,  D.  D.    With  Illustrations,  etc.    12mo,  cloth,  gilt.    $1.50. 

PILGRIMAGE  TO  EGYPT.  A  Diary  of  Explorations  on  the  Nile,  the 
Manners,  Customs,  and  Institutions  of  the  People,  the  condition  of  the  An- 
tiquities and  Ruins.  By  Hon.  J.  V.  C.  Smith.  Numerous  Engravings. 
12mo,  cloth.    $1.25. 

VISITS  TO  EUROPEAN  CELEBRITIES.  Graphic  and  life-like  Per- 
sonal Sketches  of  the  most  distinguished  men  and  women  of  Europe.  By 
the  Rev.  William  B.  Sprague,  D.  D.    12mo,  cloth.    $1.00. 

THOUGHTS  ON  THE  PRESENT  COLLEGIATE  SYSTEM  in  the 
United  States.    By  Francis  Wayland,  D.  D.    16mo,  cloth.    50  cents. 

SA  CRED  RHETORIC;  or.  Composition  and  Delivery  of  Sermons.  By  H.  J. 
Ripley,  D.  D.  With  Dr.  Ware's  Hints  on  Extemporaneous  Preaching. 
12mo,  cloth.    75  cents. 

MANSEDS  MISCELLANIES;  including  "Prolegomina  Logica,"  "Meta- 
physics," "Limits  of  Demonstrative  Evidence,"  "  Philosophy  of  Kant,"  etc. 
12mo,  cloth.     In  •preparation. 

MA  CA  ULA  Y  ON  SCO  TLAND.  A  Critique,  from  Hugh  Miller's  "  Edin- 
burgh  Witness."    16mo,  flexible  cloth.    25  cents. 

NOTES  ON  THE  UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA.  By  T.  H.  Grand 
Pierre,  D.  D.,  Pastor  of  the  Reformed  Church,  Paris.    16mo,  cloth.   50  cts. 

IIISTOR  Y  OF  CHURCH  MUSIC  IN  AMERICA.  Peculiarities;  its  legit- 
imate use  and  its  abuse;  with  notices  of  Composers,  Teachers,  Schools, 
Choirs,  Societies,  Conventions,  Books,  etc.  By  N.  D.  Gould.  12mo,  cloth. 
75  cents. 

THE  CAPTIVE  IN  PATAGONIA;  or.  Life  among  the  Giants.  A  Per- 
sonal Narrative.  By  B.  Franklin  Bourne.  With  Illustrations.  12mo, 
cloth.    85  cents. 

(53) 


GOUIB   AND    LiNKOLN, 

59  V/ASHINGTON  STEEET,  BOSTON, 

Would  call  particular  attention  to  the  following  valuable  works  described 
in  their  Catalogue  of  Publications,  viz. : 

Hugh.    Miller's    Works. 

BayBo's  Works.       Walker's  Works.       Miall'3  Works.       Bungener'a   Work. 

Annnal  of  Scientific  Discovery.      Knight's  Knowledge  is  Power. 

Krummaeher's   Suffering  Saviour, 

Banvard's  American  Histories.      The  Aimwell   Stories. 

Wewcomb's  Works.     Tweedie's  Works.     Chambers's  Works.     Harris'  Works. 

Kitto'3  Cyclopoedia  of  Biblical   Literature. 

Mra.  Knight's  Life  of  Montgomery.        Kitto's  History  of  Palestine. 

Whewell's  Work.     Wayland's  Works.     Agassiz's  Works. 


^r.-SM^r^-Si. 


Williams*  Works.     Guyot's  Works. 

Thompson's  Better  Land.     Kimball's  Heaven.    Valuable  Works  on  SEissione. 

Haven's  Mental  Philosophy.     Buchanan's  Modern  Atheism. 

Cruden's  Condensed  Concordance.     Eadie's  Analytical  Concordance. 

The  Psalmist :  a  Collection   of  Hymns. 

Valuable  School  Books.     Works  for  Sabbath  Schools. 

Memoir  of  Amos  Lawrence. 

Poetical  Works  of  Milton,  Cowper,  Scott.       Elegant  Miniature  Volumes. 

Arvine's  Cyclopaedia  of  Anecdotes. 

Bipley's  Notes  on  G-ospels,  Acts,  and  Romans. 

Sprague's  European  Celebrities.     Marsh's  Camel  and  the  Hallig. 

Ilogct's  Thesaurus  of  English  Words. 

Hackett's  Notes  on  Acts.      M'Whortcr'a  Yahvch  Christ. 

Sieoold  and  Stannius's  Comparative  Anatomy.  Marcou's  Cfeoloeical  Mi'p,  IT.  S. 

Religious  and  Miscellaneous  V.'orlis. 

Works  in  the  various  Departments  of  Literature,  Science  and  Art. 


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